Connect 38 is shortlisted for major award

Connect 38 – the largest office block to be built in Kent for 20 years – has been shortlisted for a RICS South East Award.

The building was designed by Canterbury based Clague Architects for Quinn Estates in partnership with George Wilson Developments, and is the first part of the proposed Ashford Commercial Quarter.

Connect 38, situated close to Ashford railway station and only 38 minutes away from St Pancras on Southeastern’s highspeed trains, has been shortlisted in the RICS South East commercial property category.

Karl Elliott, Managing Partner at Clague Architects, said: “It’s great to be shortlisted by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. What is equally rewarding is to help deliver what marks a step-change in terms of the design and quality of commercial development being brought forward in Kent, and east of London.

“Connect 38 and other buildings will make up Ashford Commercial Quarter, a 600,000 sq ft office and retail campus. Our team is finalising the masterplan for Quinn Estates and, when developed, the Quarter will ensure Ashford is a very strong destination for ambitious businesses.”

It is fully let and provides 80,500 sq ft of office, restaurant and retail space and be home to around 481 full-time jobs when all the tenants are fully in place.

Mark Quinn, CEO and chairman, Quinn Estates said: “We are delighted to have our landmark commercial scheme, Connect 38 shortlisted for a prestigious RICS Award.

“This project is one of my proudest achievements to date both for Quinn Estates and the fantastic work of partners like Clague who helped to make it happen. It’s great to see the scheme get national recognition for the positive impact it has had.

“Connect 38 is already playing a role in the ongoing success of Ashford as a business location and, in our opinion, sets the standard for quality office space in the South East. We’ve had great feedback with this first phase of Ashford’s Commercial Quarter laying down a marker for the area’s ambitions, a real legacy of great things to come.”

The building’s first tenants include infrastructure consultants Peter Brett, Towergate, accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy, and dental practice Pennypot Dental.