Douglas House in Glasgow, Strathclyde Commercial Property Project, West Scottish Architecture Images

Douglas House Glasgow Property

Office Building Development in Scotland design by Keppie Design, Strathclyde, Scotland

12 Nov 2015

Douglas House in Glasgow

Design: Keppie Design

Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Keppie unveils latest addition to Glasgow’s International Financial Services District Skyline

Keppie Design, the leading Glasgow architect, has submitted a detailed planning application for a new 8,000m² speculative office development on behalf of PATRIZIA UK. The new scheme will replace the vacant Douglas House, which is located in a prominent position between Waterloo and Douglas Street, in Glasgow’s city centre.

The proposal will see the development of new 15 storey Grade A Office building incorporating all the latest workplace design features with flexible column-free floor plates ranging from 460-615 m2, together with a penthouse office of 285 m2. The accommodation and specification have been designed to allow the option to further increase workplace density in the future, and will benefit from spectacular views of the city centre and Clydeside.

The sustainable building will feature a double height reception area and staff amenities, including showers, staff changing and drying facilities. A generous cycling storage provision is also proposed with surface car parking spaces accessed from St Peters Lane.

Keppie’s design will deliver a striking and modern office building comprising a rich palette of materials incorporating aluminium, solar controlled glass and precast concrete panels in a refined and ordered layered façade. This high quality treatment will be repeated on all elevations with the upper floors set back to respect the datum level of nearby buildings. The façade is grouped in two storey portions respecting the proportions and architectural rhythm of the traditional Waterloo St Buildings. The development will also include a generous and elegant colonnade on Waterloo St which will be a welcome addition to Glasgow’s public realm.

The design proposals follow detailed discussions with Glasgow City Council planners and the development will complement proposed plans for the adjacent Bothwell Plaza, as well as becoming an exciting new asset to Glasgow’s highly successful International Financial Services District.

PATRIZIA UK’s Commercial Director Jamie Cumming said “Our project team has worked very hard to design a contemporary office which will not only exceed the expectations of occupiers but also make a significant contribution to the character and prosperity of central Glasgow.”

Keppie Design Director, Richard MacDonald, added “Working closely with our Client and the city, we have created a unique design, developed with great care and attention, which builds on our experiences following the successful development of the St Vincent Plaza. This proposal incorporates a blend of rich materials and features that will enhance the character of this emerging area of the city. We will begin to see a series of new interventions in this part of the IFSD and this state-of-the-art, new building will replace the existing Douglas House which has reached the end of its operational life.”