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May 2012
Scottish Crime Campus shell completed

Scottish Crime Campus shell completed

May 3 2012

GRAHAM Construction have completed work on the core and shell of the £82m Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh, clearing the way for an internal fit out to begin.

This takes the form of a four block structure arranged around a central atrium with a connecting bridge element designed to reflect the connecting strands of DNA.

This reflects the forensic work undertaken by The Serious Organised Crime Agency, The Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, The Crown Office Procurator Fiscal’s Services and The Scottish Police Services Authority Forensic Services who will occupy the facility.

To accommodate these agencies a range of flexible office space, forensic science laboratories and additional support facilities will be provided.

Externally the campus is clad in pre-cast concrete panels and glass curtain walling with an air cushioned ETFE polymer roof.

Michael Graham, executive chairman at GRAHAM Construction, said: “The Scottish Crime Campus is of national significance and the core and shell is the pivotal element of the entire project.

“The campus has been designed in such a way that it will promote a more collaborative approach among law enforcement agencies, as well as offer a thematic representation of the increasing role of science in tackling crime."

The Campus, designed by BMJ and gm+ad architects, is expected to be fully operational in autumn 2013.

GRAHAM completed the shell in just 54 weeks

35 Comments

#1 Posted by Big Peter on 3 May 2012 at 15:12 PM

I pass this project every day on the way to work. The picture they have used does not do the building justice. absolutely stunning development.

#2 Posted by DNA on 3 May 2012 at 18:48 PM

Yes it does look exceptional Big Peter and a stunning work for sure. So delicate and yet so powerful and probably the best new project in Scotland and a cert for the Stirling prize, I think.

#3 Posted by All Hail BMJ on 3 May 2012 at 19:08 PM

mmm....I would go as far as to say that this project could herald a new dawn in architecture in Scotland. A triumph of form and function, an exposition on the play of light, indeed the sun did not know how great it was until its light hit the side of the crime campus.

#4 Posted by dirige on 3 May 2012 at 21:20 PM

So how much was BMJ and how much was GM+AD?

#5 Posted by Harry Hill on 4 May 2012 at 07:29 AM

BMJ......or..........GMA
......But which ones better ?
only one way to find out
..............FIGHT !

#6 Posted by is that plastic? on 4 May 2012 at 09:00 AM

Judging by the photograph, BMJ

#7 Posted by SA on 4 May 2012 at 09:19 AM

All GMA, was designed and on site before GMA went under and was folded into BMJ. Hopefully the remaining members that survived the transition can still get plenty of design influence in BMJ!

#8 Posted by is that plastic? on 4 May 2012 at 09:25 AM

Hard to believe judging by the photograph SA. If you were part of murray and dunlop when they went bust then what on earth are those pillars made of, it looks like pvc??

#9 Posted by Peter on 4 May 2012 at 09:32 AM

PVC is the new brick, first used by Page and Park at Duke Street

#10 Posted by boab on 4 May 2012 at 09:37 AM

Er no wrong !
Its pre cast concrete
Don’t think you can really compare this to the second rate plastic toy town development on Duke Street.
This development is in a different league

#11 Posted by is that plastic? on 4 May 2012 at 09:42 AM

Precaste made to look like PVC, damn clever whatever will these architects think of next.

#12 Posted by The Liquidator on 4 May 2012 at 10:01 AM

#7 I think you mean before the majority of staff were shafted

#13 Posted by Sven on 4 May 2012 at 11:45 AM

It does have a similarity to the 1960's Glasgow University Mathematics building - like what that building would look like with some new cladding.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/janihelle/4578173508/in/set-72157618446576514

#14 Posted by Bill on 5 May 2012 at 08:44 AM

I'm told the concept and envelope was designed by a team at GMA before their demise and the fit out is going to be BMJ. Looks great.

#15 Posted by Bob on 5 May 2012 at 15:36 PM

I think that a PVC coating on galvanised steel panels would have looked much better and be longer wearing than precast which will be open to the weather on an exposed site and so look grey and weather beaten in a short space of time.The coating could have been coloured too.

#16 Posted by All Hail BMJ on 5 May 2012 at 19:17 PM

This is a joke, right? Concept? Told by whom Bill, Pinnochio?

#17 Posted by CM on 5 May 2012 at 23:05 PM

#15 are we seriously suggesting PVC coating as a better more robust alternative!? I'm sure the photo is not doing the finish justice but I think the precast will look very good and crisp...the weathering could also be great. Bill is pretty spot on with his description as far as I know. hope the rest of the project goes well and look forward to seeing the development.

#18 Posted by Rod on 6 May 2012 at 09:03 AM

The photo is very poor and does not do it justice. Went over for a look the other week. Its a quality design and the quality of finish is outstanding

#19 Posted by Bob on 6 May 2012 at 12:16 PM

Fair enough about the weathering, perhaps some Gelsemium sempervirens planted at the base would help then?
#18 How did you get access to see the quality of finish, it is a protected site?

#20 Posted by Rod on 6 May 2012 at 19:49 PM

#19 How do you think ?

#21 Posted by Casey R on 6 May 2012 at 21:06 PM

If you want to know more about this project I found a lot of information on North Lanarkshire Council's eplanning website. The planning application is by Gordon Murray Architects:
https://eplanning.northlan.gov.uk/Online/caseFile.do?category=application&caseNo=09%2F00850%2FFUL
The design statement is quite interesting and the central space in the computer generated views looks really cool. I love the bridges and timber.
C

#22 Posted by Puzzled of Coatbridge on 7 May 2012 at 09:04 AM

No it ain't, the application is by BMJ and GM and AD Architects dated 2009

#23 Posted by Casey R on 7 May 2012 at 23:17 PM

Puzzled, I'm only looking at the stuff there - the document titled application form and other letters are from or to GMAD and then GMA.

#24 Posted by More Confused than Puzzled of Coatbridge on 8 May 2012 at 07:25 AM

Ignorance is bliss "Casey" GMA was formed in 2010 went bust in 2011 but in that time single handedly designed the campus and prepared a planning application for a £90m LAB project lodged in 2009. Incredible!

#25 Posted by Fungi on 8 May 2012 at 11:06 AM

This is great! All these paranoid government agencies that would want everyone to have an ID tag are being forced into a magnified barcode. I love the irony of it!

#26 Posted by Partick Bateman on 8 May 2012 at 14:03 PM

I like the way it resembles the bars of a prison cell.

#27 Posted by Bill on 9 May 2012 at 09:14 AM

It took me a while to find! but GMA used to have this great concept video rnning on their website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-OIRovjpgw

#28 Posted by Graeme on 9 May 2012 at 09:14 AM

I wonder what price comes up if you run it through a barcode scanner in the self-serve at Tesco?....

#29 Posted by Peter on 9 May 2012 at 09:22 AM

It took you a while to find "Bill". Hahahaha, really, how come, you posted it?

#30 Posted by All Hail BMJ on 9 May 2012 at 09:52 AM

#24 spot on. #28 it's a dna strand not a tesco barcode, geddit, doh.

#31 Posted by SAndals on 9 May 2012 at 10:13 AM

That design is criminal...

#32 Posted by Bill on 9 May 2012 at 11:00 AM

Peter, I couln't possibly admit to ripping something from a website and posting on youtube. That would't be sporting, but GMA are no longer so who cares.