A Modern Classic

Our work on the multi-award-winning g1 George Square breathes new life into Glasgow’s historic General Post Office Building in spectacular fashion. The bold fusion of Victorian and contemporary architecture and the creation of interior spaces flooded with natural light and finished to a superb standard makes this one of our proudest design achievements.

A truly exceptional redevelopment, g1 was awarded the 2011 ‘Best Commercial Workplace in Scotland’ award by the British Council for Offices.

The Brief

Restoring a neglected Victorian landmark in the heart of a bustling city is no mean feat. Glasgow’s Grade ‘A’ listed General Post Office Building sits on George Square at the centre of the city’s cultural and commercial precinct, and our task for this project was to transform this heritage site into a world-class commercial property.

To attract global businesses, we were required to deliver the best aesthetic, amenities and workspaces possible, but never lose sight of the locality and history of the building. And we also needed to tackle the design, planning and construction challenges that come with delivering a bold vision on such a sensitive urban site.

The Design

The praise for our work on g1 George Square reflects the value of our vision and expertise at every stage of this complex project.

Our bold design fuses the old with the new in dramatic fashion. A nine storey 130,000 sqft office building has been inserted behind the listed facade and is crowned with a stunning steel and glass roof inspired by the great Victorian terminus and glass-house buildings. A dramatic triple height grand entrance hall finished in Bavarian limestone leads to spacious modern workplaces flooded with natural light. External roof terraces on the upper floors provide a unique aspect over Glasgow and offer a stunning backdrop to occupiers.

To deliver on our vision we negotiated with Glasgow City Council and Historic Environment Scotland, assessed the impact of the new building on key views in the city centre, and successfully retained and integrated the original George Square facade (which was at the time the largest facade retention project in Europe).

Awards

We don’t design for awards; we design for people. But once in a while, it’s nice to take stock of external measures of success.

2011
British Council For Offices (BCO) Regional Awards
Winner – Best Commercial Workplace in Scotland