In January 2011, BAM Properties spent £6.5 million on a derelict 1960s office building at 110 Queen Street in the heart of Glasgow. Our plan was to develop it into CONNECT110NS, the best modern office building in Scotland’s second biggest city.

But buying land does not a development make. So for the rest of 2011, we reviewed market leading office buildings in the UK, debated design features, agreed building specifications with the technical team and consulted the public on their opinion. In the summer of 2011, we were distracted from design team meetings, as the derelict building was used as a base for the filming of “World War Z” for a few months. Unfortunately, no sighting of Brad Pitt but it was great to get an insight into the film world!

We worked closely with the local planning authority throughout and at the end of the year we submitted our planning application. In early 2012, planning consent was secured, and our focus shifted to finding tenants, proving our financial appraisals and speaking to financers.  With positive discussions with a tenant and finance secured, the construction team geared up for a start in 2013.

The first year on site was spent demolishing the existing building in one of the busiest parts of Glasgow. Our demolition work won the Contract of the Year at the Demolition Awards 2013 and we secured our first tenant - Scotland’s largest law firm, Brodies LLP.

Now in 2014, our vision is finally becoming a reality as the frame of the building is coming out the ground, the glass cladding is going on, and more tenants are taking space. The project is now part of the Glasgow skyline and we have a real sense of pride in the BAM team’s lasting contribution to Glasgow’s city centre.

CONNECT11ONS completes in June 2015. Each phase of our work over the past four years has been exciting but next year reaching completion will be the best! 

Keep up with progress at CONNECT110NS by visiting our Facebook page.

About the author

Michael Smart

Michael Smart

Development Director - Scotland and North England, BAM Properties

 

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