The Norwegian Embassy recently signed up with Moot Manor (Pvt) Ltd, becoming the first occupants of the soon to be completed M2M Veranda Offices in Colombo 02. The Ambassador and the First secretary of the Norwegian Embassy visited the site of M2M Veranda Offices, located at the intersection of W.A.D. Ramanayake Mawatha and Hunupitiya Road, connected by a walk-way to the vibrant Park Street Mews in Colombo 02.
The Embassy plans to start the process of fitting out the premises from the 1st of August. The process of finding project managers, building contractors and material suppliers is set to begin soon.
When interviewed, as to why they located the Embassy in M2M and in this part of Colombo, the senior advisor at the Section for Property Management at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “It was the desire of Norway to seek intimacy rather than anonymity. M2M Veranda Offices has just four office floors albeit rather large ones. This appealed to us rather than any tall multi storied building.” They were also attracted by the reputation of the design consultant MVRDV of Netherlands. MVRDV was responsible for designing the now famous and iconic Bar Code district and an international bank headquarters in Oslo among other remarkable projects worldwide.
In addition they were attracted by the qualities endowed on M2M by the MVRDV design of having plentiful natural light, high ceilings, a surfeit of parking and an extraordinary break out space of a sculpture garden rooftop.
Being just a walk away from Park Street Mews or the Colombo City Centre for meals was an added plus.
Finally, the official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed wonderment that the terms of the lease, called on the tenants to “celebrate what united humanity and disregard what divided humanity as well to smile and be happy every day.”
He said that he had never in his working life encountered similar terms in a commercial lease but that he, both individually and on behalf of the Ministry endorsed every word of those two injunctions.
The M2M Veranda Offices are set to open this November.