A flagship £5million redevelopment of one of Aberdeen’s most prominent office buildings has been completed - paving the way for hundreds of workers to return to Union Street.
Formerly known as Caledonian House, the building at the corner of Union Street and Union Row has been transformed by The SRE Group and rebranded as Aurora Aberdeen.
Among the first tenants moving into Aurora Aberdeen are Ventex, a climate tech venture studio headquartered in the city, and its portfolio company Rahd.AI, a breakthrough artificial intelligence platform aimed at cutting the cost of oil and gas decommissioning.
Aurora Aberdeen is now open
Once fully let, the building will bring 500 workers into the city centre, supporting the local economy and boosting efforts to regenerate Union Street.
Spanning five floors and 45,000 square feet, Aurora Aberdeen offers a range of high-specification ‘Grade A’ office accommodation, with flexible layouts and modern staff facilities.
The project builds on The SRE Group’s track record of transforming underused properties into thriving business hubs - including Union Point, formerly Salvesen Tower, at Aberdeen Harbour.
John Grewar of The SRE Group said: “This is a significant moment, not just for Aurora Aberdeen but for Union Street and the wider city centre.
“Our vision was to create a place that reflects the ambition of modern businesses while contributing to the rebirth of this iconic part of the city.
“Ventex and Rahd.AI are exactly the type of future-focused, high-growth companies we hoped to attract, and we’re excited to now open the doors to more.”
The Standard Real Estate team at Aurora
Ventex is led by energy sector entrepreneurs Steve Gray and Stuart McLeod, who have a track record of building globally significant businesses from Aberdeen.
The business specialises in refounding and repurposing existing companies, technologies, and expertise to accelerate the net-zero energy transition.
Ventex is moving into Aurora alongside one of its portfolio companies, Rahd.AI, which is creating 30 new, high-value tech jobs as it scales up technology which cuts the cost of offshore decommissioning by 35%, potentially saving industry and governments tens of billions of pounds.
Steve Gray, Managing Partner at Ventex, said: “We are delighted to be among the first to call Aurora home. Aberdeen is a world leading energy technology cluster.
“Aurora is the high quality, collaborative space we need to grow tech led creative businesses in a city centre location with everything we need on hand, allowing us to attract the best talent to Ventex and Aberdeen.”
Stuart McLeod, Managing Partner at Ventex and Chairman at Rahd.AI added: “Moving into Aurora - a landmark redevelopment in the heart of Aberdeen - reflects our commitment to the city centre’s future. We encourage other ambitious businesses to be part of Union Street’s revival and help shape the next chapter of Aberdeen’s story,”
Ventex and rahd.AI are among the first tenants
Aurora Aberdeen’s launch is being hailed as a key milestone in the wider regeneration of Union Street, which has suffered from high vacancy rates and reduced footfall in recent years.
Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is further good news for Union Street - a flagship development that brings jobs, energy and optimism back into our city core.
“Every person who comes back into the city centre helps to breathe life into it - supporting local businesses, boosting footfall, and creating the kind of vibrancy Aberdeen needs to thrive.”
Bob Keiller, Chair of the Our Union Street regeneration campaign, said: “Bringing nearly 500 workers back into the city centre is catalytic and this is exactly the kind of bold, private sector-led investment that Union Street needs.
“It brings immediate economic impact and sends a powerful message about the direction Aberdeen is heading.”
Adrian Watson, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Inspired, added: “High-quality office space in the heart of the city is a key part of the recovery jigsaw - it drives footfall and supports surrounding businesses. This launch marks real progress, and we commend everyone involved.”
With additional floor space now available to let, The SRE Group is encouraging businesses of all sizes to consider joining the growing cluster at Aurora Aberdeen.