A LANDMARK building in Middlesbrough is now fully occupied.

Owner Marchday last week completed the final letting in the 17-storey building.

Occupants have included Garlands Call Centres, Walkabout Inns and Middlesbrough Town Centre Company, and now two new tenants have signed leases.

The National Probation Service has taken part of the fifth and sixth floors as part of the restructuring of its administrative department.

Erimus Housing, a not-for-profit organisation that has taken over management of Middlesbrough Council's housing stock, has moved into the fourth and seventh floors. Since 2000, Marchday has carried out a £4m refurbishment of the building to provide modern facilities and telecommunications services.

The building is at the heart of the town centre's business and retail community, with good links to roads, rail and Durham Tees Valley Airport.

The building has also seen an external transformation.

Cleveland Arts worked with Marchday to commission an artist to highlight and illuminate the glass-faced building.

The result was the Rose art lighting project, which has become a dramatic addition to the Teesside skyline.

John Orchard, director at Marchday, said: "In just four years, Centre North-East has been transformed into a landmark building for businesses in the North-East.

"To have full occupancy in such a short space of time is a real boost for Middlesbrough. The multi-million pound investment in regenerating one of the town's most prestigious buildings has brought with it more jobs and new business.

"It is a real coup for Middlesbrough to have attracted such dynamic companies to the town. Thanks to our committed team, I am delighted to be able to announce that we now have full occupancy and more than 1,500 people now working at Centre North-East."

Ray Mallon, Mayor of Middlesbrough, said: "The levels of occupancy in this keynote building are one of the most accurate indicators of business confidence and buoyancy in Middlesbrough, so it is good to know it is now full.

"Marchday has done an excellent job in making the building so attractive inside and out and in bringing such good quality businesses and jobs to the town. Their success is well deserved."

Published: 14/12/2004