Jailhouse rocks
December 16 2008
Presented by Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency, in dual capacity of both client and host of the annual Business Excellence Awards, the trophy win acknowledged achievement in the £3.5 million refurbishment of a Grade 2 listed building at Orkney Street. This has transformed what was the former Govan Police Station and original Burgh Hall into a state-of-the-art business centre.
The award recognised the fine balance to be struck between maintaining the architectural integrity of the existing building and making it fit for purpose as a business centre.
Iain MacLaren, conservation accredited architect and partner at Wylie Shanks Architects, said, “ We are delighted that the team`s work over several years has been rewarded by our client in this way. It has been an interesting journey from the original ambitious `blue sky` proposals for the site to where we are now, and with three of the units already let, it will not be long before the building starts its new life.”
The conversion sees the former Burgh Hall and police cells adapted for open plan and `incubator` community offices, with new vertical circulation and secure parking. A previously painted and `blackened` stone facade has been restored, with the north wing having its facade rebuilt and a new floor added. Various later ill advised additions to the grade B listed John Burnett designed original have been removed and new curtain walled stair/lift towers inserted, providing visual clarity to the two separate building types.
A booklet with the history of the building and its place in Govan`s history is due for launch for the opening early next year, and one of the original cells has been retained as a `museum` piece.
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Read next: Bishopton sticks to its guns
Read previous: Refurbishment team assembled
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