Renfield Street crown to shift Glasgow's centre of gravity northwards
May 28 2024
Property developer MRP has given the public a first glimpse of its plans to develop 200 Renfield Street in Glasgow city centre following its purchase of the 53,000sq/ft office building back in 2021.
Emerging proposals by Ryder augment the Broadway Central development with purpose-built student accommodation and a separate co-living building offering residents shared kitchen, living and dining facilities.
Mindful of the site's placement on the boundary between the city grid and the chaotic landscape to the immediate north, the developer advocates a full rebuild as the only commercially viable option, permitting the necessary scale of development to activate public realm links between Cowcaddens and the emerging 'Avenue of the Arts' along Renfrew Street.
A collonaded walkway would frame an active frontage around the perimeter of both buildings, combining retail, commercial and hospitality uses overlooking an Arts Square for pop-up markets, cinema screenings and events.
In a consultation statement Ryder observed: "The opportunity exists to create a new public space to bring relief to the northern part of the city grid and act as a focal point for the cultural and arts functions in the immediate area.
"The existing route along the western edge of the site could be supported by improved public realm within the site, and enhancements to the lane network on-site can help reintegrate the site back into the city grid."
Building forms and materials are still under development but will be 'carved and sculpted' to maximise street-level daylight and avoid a lumpen skyline presence.
Construction is not expected to get underway until 2025 at the earliest.
Agreement is being sought with Glasgow City Council on what scale and mass is appropriate
An emphasis on the arts recognises the area's central role in Glasgow's cultural life
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2 Comments
The tower portion should at least be visible from looking up Renfield Street.
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One wonders whether the new emerging tall buildings policy will actually be effective in encouraging some originality or inventiveness or will the herd mentality of the recent past prevail?