Fifth House completes a hat-trick of major property projects in Leeds

Fifth House, a leading UK design and place-making agency, has completed a range of prestigious commercial property projects in Leeds.

Based in Edinburgh, and run by founder and creative director Jonny Kermode who hails from Halifax, Fifth House has helped to transform 7 Park Row into state-of-the-art office space, while providing significant marketing collateral for other high-profile office buildings including No1 Sweetfields and 29 King Street.

Jonny Kermode commented: “It is both an honour and a privilege to have played a pivotal role in positioning these three key buildings in the commercial heart of Leeds. They now offer some of the finest ultra-modern office space in the north of England and underline the city’s reputation as one of the most business-friendly locations in the whole of the UK”.

7 Park Row has just been officially relaunched on to the Leeds property market after a multi-million refurbishment by joint venture owners, the Augur Group and Firefly Capital.

Jonny explained: “Supporting clients, consultants and interior designers at 7 Park Row represents the type of creative-commercial collaboration we champion here at Fifth House. We love it when architecture, brand, and audience all bring unique challenges.’

“When Knight Frank approached us about 7 Park Row, the building was at a turning point. Recently acquired by new owners, Augur Group, the building needed a more contemporary brand repositioning to match the inspired refurbishment plan. Previous branding was tired and didn’t reflect the building’s potential.

“Nor did it speak to Leeds’ rapidly evolving office market. We were brought in at a critical early phase - not just to rebrand, but to rethink the identity and presence of 7 Park Row from the inside out.”

Jon Kinash of the Augur Group commented: “From the start, it was clear that Fifth House were here to listen, take a proper brief, and get everything that they needed to do a great job. Fifth House didn’t just deliver a visual identity - they brought coherence, confidence, and creativity at every turn. They understood the commercial pressure points but always returned with ideas that elevated the asset. A true collaborative partner.”

The refreshed 7 Park Row is already making an impression. Interest has accelerated, and the unified branding experience - from the website to the wayfinding - reflects a property that is every bit as considered as the occupants it serves.

Eamon Fox, head of the Leeds office of global property consultancy Knight Frank, who worked on 7 Park Row, Sweetfields and the award-winning City Square House, with Fifth House, commented: “Working with Fifth House has been inspiring. Not only do we have a creative partner, but we also have a partner who understands the commercial reality of the job. Together we deliver exceptional commercial results.”

Sweetfields is evolving into one of Leeds South Bank’s most ambitious mixed-use neighbourhoods. On working together on Sweetfields, Lattifah Harris, Marketing Manager at developers PLATFORM_ enthused: “Fifth House demonstrated a rare ability to translate commercial ambition into something human and compelling. They listened carefully, shaped our story with precision and added creative muscle where it mattered. The result is a brand and marketing collateral that feels confident, clear and energising.”

Further afield in Newcastle, Fifth House has been working on the significant refurbishment of Nexus House, the prominent former home of the Metro operator in the city centre. Nexus moved out of the five-storey building, at the corner of Westgate Road and Saint James Boulevard, last summer to relocate to new offices at the nearby Helix development. Plans are now underway to modernise Nexus House to improve its appearance and make it a more appealing prospect for potential new tenants.

Fifth House is heavily involved in this comprehensive refurbishment, including working on renaming the building, marketing and brand strategy, creating marketing collateral such as brochures and a website, together with email and social media campaigns, building signage and wayfinding.

Jonny Kermode, who revealed that Fifth House has just expanded into bigger offices in Edinburgh, concluded: “Our vision is to grow with aligned brands who value good design and a more caring brand of creativity. We’re already renowned for our great work, especially in property and places. And over time, we’re building a warm culture, a strong reputation and fierce loyalty from both our clients and our staff.”