The Scottish building industry is booming.
The A&D community and specification markets alike are enjoying the benefit of several developments currently under construction in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. They focus on mixed-use buildings which will soon be offering plenty of office space, BTR accommodation, as well as hospitality and retail opportunities, all while keeping an eye on energy and sustainability standards. Not to mention the positive economic impact these projects will bring.
What’s also clear is that specifiers will be stepping up to provide products to match the scale, liveability, personalisation and green credentials of these and other exciting developments. That’s why we’re looking forward to the next edition of #DesignPopUp Glasgow on 09-10 June 2021. We see these popular events as temporary showrooms for the specification market.
Rising Stars
Drum Property Group’s Buchanan Wharf development on the south bank of the Clyde, comprising the new 470,000 sq ft Barclays Innovation Centre and two 18-storey apartment towers, is one of Scotland’s biggest ever construction projects. Meanwhile, just across the Tradeston footbridge, in the heart of Glasgow’s International Financial District, is set to rise JP Morgan’s new 14-storey headquarters. And just a couple of blocks up, at 177 Bothwell St, will loom Virgin Money’s new Glasgow home ― the city’s largest-ever single office building.
They’re breaking records in Edinburgh too. Edinburgh St. James is the biggest retail-led development in Scotland and promises to reinvigorate the capital’s East end. Sir Norman Foster’s 60,000 sq m mixed-use development in Haymarket is the largest of its kind in the city for a decade. And, just to the north of Edinburgh in Granton, Europe’s biggest brownfield site is set to be transformed into a new £1.3bn coastal town.
"#DesignPopUp offers the A&D community a place to connect with peers and industry partners in a relaxed and sociable atmosphere. I especially enjoy the talks and panel discussions where other design professionals share new insights and key trends with the audience. The variety of renowned brands showcasing design-led, high-quality furniture and finishes is great. It introduces new products which I can then use on current and upcoming projects."
Aline Browers, Senior Interior Designer, HLM Architects
Inspiring Living
Where there are shiny new offices, there are bright young things looking for homes. Property firm Rettie is particularly excited about the response to Scotland’s housing demand, highlighting a surge in Scotland’s build-to-rent (BTR) sector. New homes becoming available is up by a third on last year at more than 7,200, and Rettie is confident of further room for growth. Among forthcoming newly available-to-rent properties will be 435 luxury, tech-enabled apartments at Moda Living’s Holland Park development in Glasgow, designed exclusively for rental, 324 BTR apartments at Buchanan Wharf, and some of the 1,800 new homes in the exciting new “urban quarter” at Edinburgh Park.
Welcoming People & Feeling Good
And more than ever, these projects have the people who will be using them in mind. Edinburgh’s retail and tourist offering will soon include the 85 shops, 30 restaurants and the city’s first W Hotel that comprise the Edinburgh St. James development, along with Diageo’s new state-of-the-art, immersive Johnny Walker visitor experience. Meanwhile, Stallan-Brand Architects, who started with a blank page with their plans for Glasgow’s Candleriggs, are looking to render the quarter more people-friendly in a “more porous and connected intervention”.
Where “mixed-use” might once have meant you could pick up a panini within ten minutes of your workstation, now it’s about ensuring you have comprehensive recreation possibilities on your doorstep. Both the Holland Park and Edinburgh Park residential developments will offer health and wellbeing facilities and outside activity areas, with the former also incorporating co-working spaces. Edinburgh’s reborn Meadowbank Sports Centre will cater extensively for both elite and community sport, while Virgin Money’s new Glasgow office (177 Bothwell Street) will feature a rooftop running track. And you’ll never be far from that panini, or an organic flat white.
Nurturing The Environment
Sustainability, energy efficiency and environmental responsibility are critical to modern developments. JP Morgan’s new Glasgow HQ is targeting BREEAM Excellent certification, the leading sustainability assessment method, and is one of the first to be built under Planning Policy COP5 (Resource Efficiency). Both JP Morgan and Virgin Money’s new buildings prioritise cycle parking over cars. Moda Living has been working with Glasgow City Council to install new green infrastructure around the Holland Park development, while a newly created civic square will lie at the heart of Edinburgh Park. Green travel to and from these vibrant city neighbours is set to improve this year with the completion of Glasgow Queen Street station’s renovations, which will allow longer trains to carry more passengers on faster, more energy-efficient journeys.
Bringing Something New To The Party
That’s a whole lot of people who need to know where your product or organisation fits into their project. Our #DesignPopUps provide informal yet focused opportunities for you to showcase your products and ideas. Architects, designers and specifiers alike enjoy the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and the striking architectural surroundings of these events. And our very popular Prosecco, Parmesan and Prosciutto Party takes the work out of networking. In fact, networking never felt this good.
“#DesignPopUps provide attractive and interesting venues in key city centres for exhibiting your products to design-savvy visitors. They are very well organised and have the added attraction of short but meaningful lectures, and a fun networking evening with parmesan and prosecco. Our informal stands at these city #DesignPopUps have proved to be a successful and enjoyable method of communicating our brands to a wider audience.”
Jane Pike — Inform Furniture