urbanglasgow.co.uk

james73

£65m overhaul for George Square eyesore office block (Evening Times)

AN EYESORE office block occupying one of the most prestigious sites in Glasgow
is to be transformed into an "iconic landmark".

George House, a 1970s' box-like structure occupying half of the northern face
of George Square, is scheduled to undergo a £65million overhaul after its
owners submitted plans yesterday.

Part of the plan for the building, currently home to accountancy firm Ernst
& Young, involves a terraced restaurant and convention facilities. The proposed
new building would also create 27,000 sq m of office space.

George House's owners, Redevco, have been working with Glasgow City
Council and Historic Scotland to establish the design concepts with a loose
deadline of 2014.

Redevco is hosting an exhibition of its redevelopment plans at Princes Square
from 2pm to 7pm today and Friday.

Scottish firm Reiach and Hall has secured the design aspect of the new building.

Director Neil Gillespie is currently Architect of the Year, and designed the
award-winning Beatson Institute for Cancer Research at Glasgow's Gartnavel
Hospital with fellow director Lyle Chrystie.

Mr Chrystie said: "We have focused on designing a building that takes full
advantage of its site on George Square and is an appropriate neighbour
to the City Chambers.

"All of the major design decisions have been made with this in mind. We
have been inspired by Glasgow's rich tradition of commercial and mercantile
buildings and hope this can add to and extend this heritage."

Built in 1979, George House is widely accepted as poor quality architecture,
in sharp contrast to most of the surrounding listed buildings. It was bought
by Redevco in 2003 for £18m, the biggest office transaction that year in
Glasgow.

The redevelopment plans also come at a time when the 230-year-old
square could be on the cusp of one of its biggest overhauls in recent
history. The city council has indicated that it would like to pedestrianise
part of the street network around George Square, while the completion of
the high-profile, £70m redevelopment of the GPO building is expected by
the end of 2009.

Speculation continues that the old GPO will become the new Glasgow home
of Ernst & Young.

James H

_________________
The blinding obvious is what you showed to me.....

james73 · Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 12:58 pm Post subject:

James H
_________________
The blinding obvious is what you showed to me.....

Fjord · Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject:

Yet another glass box... who'd have guessed that bit of architectural genius?

glasgowken · Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 4:34 pm Post subject:

Crap. What's there now looks better and that's saying something.
What a shame the early building was pulled down

_________________
GK

Stuball · Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 7:09 pm Post subject:

Offt, thats hideous
_________________
Now coming at you with 95% more significance, 1% less salt and virtually fat free!

FLICKR GALLERY

Marti · Bag of chips Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 132

Why can't they give us a building that compliments the C CHs instead of
these modern monstrosities. I was on a walkabout on wedensday in the city, and i was impressed with the amount of great looking buildings we do still have.

Rucola · Buttered roll Joined: 21 Mar 2009 Posts: 7

streapadair

james73 · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 11:27 am Post subject:

Nice pic, streapadair.

George Square, 1960s

George Square, c.1975

James H
_________________
The blinding obvious is what you showed to me.....

Marti · Bag of chips Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 132

Nice 70s pic...