The British Council for Offices (BCO) is to take its Specification Guide global to cater for demand from markets around the world, the London-based organisation announced on Thursday. It is initially targeting the Middle East, but other key markets are also being considered.
The British Council for Offices (BCO) is to take its Specification Guide global to cater for demand from markets around the world, the London-based organisation announced on Thursday. It is initially targeting the Middle East, but other key markets are also being considered.
The move follows increasing calls from developers and occupiers for the BCO Specification to be used more actively to establish higher standards in other markets, BCO said in a press statement. 'A report to be published later this year indicates that there is little consensus, particularly in emerging markets, as to what a typical Grade A building actually comprises and the pace of development has left quality buildings in short supply. The UK is widely recognised as creating some of the best office buildings in the world, and demand for British expertise remains very high.'
Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, said: 'On one hand, despite the current global slowdown, the world as one market will be an undeniable fact of 21st-century life. On the other hand, there is still real market-by-market diversity driven by factors such as cultural difference and relative market maturity.
We are focusing our attention initially in the Middle East but plan, in time, to build a broad range of Specification Guides that will spread the benefits of the BCO approach around the world. Only the BCO, with its wide-ranging membership, established research programme and respected industry position, can deliver guides that take a truly comprehensive view of office development. And we want to make this an inclusive exercise: any industry professionals who wish to get involved should contact the BCO.'
