Ocean House will become the new name on the block to do business in Portsmouth
Technopole is rebranding as The Trafalgar Group unveils new vision for landmark city building
Most people entering Portsmouth via the M275 will recognise the building instantly, even if they have never stepped inside it.
Since opening in 2003, Portsmouth Technopole has become a familiar part of the city skyline at the gateway to Portsmouth, housing hundreds of businesses over the past two decades and becoming closely associated with innovation and entrepreneurship in the city.
But now a new chapter has opened as Technopole is becoming Ocean House as owner The Trafalgar Group unveils a new vision for landmark building.
While many people associate the building with the University of Portsmouth, which later operated the site through its Innovation Connect programme, the building itself predates the university’s ownership and has spent more than 20 years supporting start-ups, growing businesses, and independent companies behind its glass frontage on Kingston Crescent.
The Trafalgar Group has announced plans to gradually transform the building and says the new identity reflects both changing working culture and the evolving role the building plays in the city. The changes go beyond the name alone, with investment plans to create a larger coworking space, alongside upgraded communal areas, meeting rooms, podcast facilities and a new café.
Edward Younghusband, of The Trafalgar Group, said: “It’s one of those buildings almost everyone in Portsmouth recognises, even if they don’t realise they know it. You drive past it coming into the city and it’s just always been there in the background.
“What interested us was the idea that while the building is very familiar from the outside, most people have no idea what actually goes on inside it or how many businesses are actually based here. There’s already a strong business community in the building, and the aim with Ocean House is really to build on that rather than replace it.”
The Trafalgar Group acquired the building from the university last year and says Ocean House will evolve gradually over time as the next phase of improvements are introduced. The group already operates workspace sites including Gatcombe House in Portsmouth, alongside Northshore Boatyard in Itchenor and Thornham Marina in Chichester Harbour.
Edward said the project comes at a time when Portsmouth itself is evolving, with initiatives such as Portsmouth 100 and the city’s UK City of Culture 2029 bid helping shine a spotlight on the city in new ways.
“Portsmouth has always had brilliant people and businesses in it, but it does feel like there’s a renewed energy around the city at the moment,” he said.
“We liked the idea of Ocean House becoming part of that wider story in its own way. Not trying to be flashy or overcomplicate things, just creating somewhere people genuinely enjoy being and working.”