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BAM turn attention to Glasgow’s Atlantic Square

February 4 2015

BAM turn attention to Glasgow’s Atlantic Square
BAM, in collaboration with Taylor Properties, is turning its attention to the next big project in its development pipeline, a £100m mixed-use development in Glasgow’s IFSD, having recently sold 110 Queen Street to Deutsche AWM for £70m.

Following that success the developer is retaining Cooper Cromar for Atlantic Square, adopting a similar smoked glass aesthetic for three separate buildings, staggered behind a retained warehouse frontage on James Watt Street.

In a statement BAM said: “Having successfully developed CONNECT110NS nearby, BAM will bring its expertise and trusted supply chain to develop an entirely new city district for technology and financial services organisations.

“Celebrating the best of Glasgow’s trading past, and linking it to its future as a hub for international trade, Atlantic Square will comprise two commercial buildings of ten storeys (180,000ft2) and six storeys (80,000ft2) respectively, with ground floor retail space in both. A third building will feature high-quality retail and residential accommodation.”

A planning application is expected imminently.
An A-listed facade will be retained for the build
An A-listed facade will be retained for the build

10 Comments

The French Tickler
#1 Posted by The French Tickler on 5 Feb 2015 at 10:02 AM
Really happy that something is finally being done with this site, I've no idea how long it's been derelict now. Very disappointed in the new buildings though - just very, very ugly. They could have made much better use of the warehouse facade, there's almost no point in keeping it now. Like some other new buildings in the city (e.g. 1 west regent street) it seems too big. There's no shortage of land to build on in Glasgow so why cram so much in here?
james
#2 Posted by james on 5 Feb 2015 at 10:52 AM
For ugly, read robust. Of course it's perhaps 'emotionless' from a human point of view, but it is commerce within a fairly hostile environment. What does one expect, puppy dogs, flower boxes? Without commenting on world economics, from a purely narrow architectural point of view, and without reference to a design statement, this looks like a cogent legible 1,2,3 step scheme, appropriate to its context and scale of the city grid. The existing kink in York street is exploited for all it's worth to wonderful effect as happens elsewhere in Glasgow. The interminable block also appears to be broken down into more accessible sizes with some visual and pedestrian permeability perhaps afforded between the blocks (I dunno). The resultant aesthetic of the structural tartan/Chicago-like Miesian grid is appropriate for Glasgow city. And you can see inside people's offices! Woop-de-dooh! It's visually interesting! I like its restraint and grey singularity of language. It is a definite improvement on other buildings in the area. I don't give two hoots for the A-listed building. just sayin.
David
#3 Posted by David on 5 Feb 2015 at 11:05 AM
What James said.

Like. Let's get as much new life injected in to this area as possible.
Chris
#4 Posted by Chris on 5 Feb 2015 at 14:06 PM
I like the way the facade has been used. The thoroughfare between the buildings creates a flow between the streets.
E=mc2
#5 Posted by E=mc2 on 10 Feb 2015 at 21:08 PM
Jings, looks like the infinite improbability drive has inadvertently delivered a designer to Cooper Cromar
think positive
#6 Posted by think positive on 18 Feb 2015 at 13:23 PM
Jings, looks like the infinite improbability drive has inadvertently delivered a positive comment to urban realm
Topboy
#7 Posted by Topboy on 18 Feb 2015 at 19:17 PM
Cracking development
Well done Cooper Cromar

Cant wait to watch this on progress
phil stirling
#8 Posted by phil stirling on 5 May 2015 at 15:57 PM
oh yes and while we're at it let's just knock down any other listed building that stands in the way of an office block. Some folk have no idea of industrial heritage
nip
#9 Posted by nip on 16 May 2018 at 10:16 AM
Real late to this; just spent a whole evening creating a photo journal of the city's new build and their integration with the historic. It's been more than 3 years since the above posts were written. Looks like BAM are finally (and at long last) on site with this. If this city were in China, it'd had already been built, torn down and rebuilt again!
Billy
#10 Posted by Billy on 16 May 2018 at 11:00 AM
I am amazed too at the slowness of developments. From Candleriggs, the Airport link, Tradeston , the hotels at St Enoch, the Buchanan Galleries, Govan and the list goes on. The question is why when our competitors waste no time? What’s happening with the brown sites at the Financial District on the Clyde? Just looks so unfinished when you enter the city from the airport via the Kingston. Some tall buildings here would be a welcome addition to the skyline and give the impression of a city that believes in itself. From the Kingston there are too many visible brown sites either side of the Clyde. And the Kingston is the major gateway to the city from the airport. Not a good first impression.

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