June 28 2023

Long-running efforts to find a new use for the former Dundee College have taken a fresh turn with the submission of a change-of-use application for student housing.

Scodd Ltd has chosen HTC Architects to oversee its latest vision to convert the current building, including an enhanced public realm to improve its immediate setting, finally bringing 20 years of abandonment to a close.

Built in 1969 the site at 30 Constitution Road has lain vacant since 2003 following the departure of the college, with numerous previous planning applications passing undelivered amidst difficulty in getting the numbers to add up.

The latest attempt to break the stalemate will relocate the main entrance to Constitution Road and introduce a multi-use 'festival' zone combining informal study, break out space and games room the plans.

In a statement, the architects wrote: "To ensure a contextually appropriate scheme the design proposes to celebrate and intelligently incorporate the original architecture of the structure by cleaning and restoring the lower sections of the concrete frame and making this a key focal point of the design philosophy.

"New life will be breathed into the existing facades via a substantial refurbishment utilising high-quality glazing and contemporary rain screen panels."

The key intervention will see a link building between both towers replaced by a new structure to improve connectivity, with bold colours employed to break up the elevations in a distinctive 'jute weave' pattern. This will see the current structure stripped to its frame with the removal of all non-load-bearing elements, permitting internal reorganisation to insert 409 studio rooms.

The opportunity will also be taken to add a top-floor extension.

A blank south-facing gable is 'tentatively' earmarked for an outsize piece of public art.  

1 Comment

#1 Posted by Rankielass on 17 Jul 2023 at 12:59 PM

Well, that is just awful!

Post your comments