Key Takeaways
- • Capital Fund Management (CFM), a quantitative alternative investment manager founded in 1991, has secured a lease for 2,000 square feet on the second floor of the Bank Building at Smithson Plaza in London's St James's Street.
- • Tishman Speyer completed a comprehensive £20 million refurbishment of the three-building Smithson Plaza estate (formerly known as 'The Economist Plaza'), delivering over 29,000 square feet of Grade A office space across eight refurbished floors, positioning the property for institutional tenant recruitment.
- • CFM's space occupancy represents a successful leasing outcome for Tishman Speyer's repositioning strategy at the 81,000 square foot mixed-use complex, originally designed by Peter and Alison Smithson in 1964 and acquired by Tishman Speyer in 2016.
- • The Smithson Tower, the only refurbished office tower in St James's, offers 360-degree panoramic London views and state-of-the-art amenities including new HVAC systems, double-glazed windows, and modernized elevator infrastructure across all three buildings.
- • CFM's lease signals market demand for premium, refurbished office space in London's West End among alternative investment firms seeking flagship London headquarters locations with institutional-grade facilities.
Summary
Tishman Speyer has completed a significant leasing agreement with Capital Fund Management for approximately 2,000 square feet of office space at Smithson Plaza, a refurbished mixed-use estate located at 23-27 St James's Street in London. CFM, founded in 1991, is an alternative investment manager specializing in quantitative and systematic trading strategies applied across global capital markets. The lease positions CFM on the second floor of the Bank Building with commanding views over St James's Street and the central plaza.
Smithson Plaza comprises three buildings—the Tower Building, Bank Building, and Residential Building—totaling approximately 81,000 square feet arranged around a central plaza. The estate was originally designed by renowned architects Peter and Alison Smithson and completed in 1964. Tishman Speyer acquired the complex in 2016 under the previous designation 'The Economist Plaza' and subsequently undertook a comprehensive repositioning program. The developer appointed London-based architects DSDHA to oversee the refurbishment with a strategic mandate to enhance the historic significance of the complex while delivering contemporary institutional-grade office facilities.
The refurbishment program delivered over 29,000 square feet of Grade A office space across eight refurbished floors, along with 2,450 square feet of 'plug and play' flexible space. Capital works included complete lobby renovations across all three buildings, installation of new double-glazed windows, state-of-the-art air conditioning systems, and modernized lift infrastructure. The Smithson Tower, positioned as the only refurbished office tower in the St James's market, offers 360-degree unobstructed panoramic views of London and has been fitted with premium tenant amenities. The central plaza is being activated as a cultural gathering space with a dedicated public art program, supporting the estate's original civic purpose.
CFM's lease agreement demonstrates institutional demand for premium refurbished office accommodation in London's West End among alternative investment firms. The leasing success aligns with Tishman Speyer's broader repositioning strategy for the property, enhancing the developer's position for potential capital events following the comprehensive £20 million refurbishment investment.
Smithson Plaza comprises three buildings—the Tower Building, Bank Building, and Residential Building—totaling approximately 81,000 square feet arranged around a central plaza. The estate was originally designed by renowned architects Peter and Alison Smithson and completed in 1964. Tishman Speyer acquired the complex in 2016 under the previous designation 'The Economist Plaza' and subsequently undertook a comprehensive repositioning program. The developer appointed London-based architects DSDHA to oversee the refurbishment with a strategic mandate to enhance the historic significance of the complex while delivering contemporary institutional-grade office facilities.
The refurbishment program delivered over 29,000 square feet of Grade A office space across eight refurbished floors, along with 2,450 square feet of 'plug and play' flexible space. Capital works included complete lobby renovations across all three buildings, installation of new double-glazed windows, state-of-the-art air conditioning systems, and modernized lift infrastructure. The Smithson Tower, positioned as the only refurbished office tower in the St James's market, offers 360-degree unobstructed panoramic views of London and has been fitted with premium tenant amenities. The central plaza is being activated as a cultural gathering space with a dedicated public art program, supporting the estate's original civic purpose.
CFM's lease agreement demonstrates institutional demand for premium refurbished office accommodation in London's West End among alternative investment firms. The leasing success aligns with Tishman Speyer's broader repositioning strategy for the property, enhancing the developer's position for potential capital events following the comprehensive £20 million refurbishment investment.
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