March 31 2025

The University of Strathclyde has filed detailed plans to refurbish and extend the former student union at 90 John Street into a technology hub.

HLM Architects will update the 1959 building, including a 1970s stair and rear extension, in its new guise as the Charles Huang Advanced Technology and Innovation Centre (CHATIC), a research hub and start-up incubator.

In a planning statement, HLM wrote: "The West facade remains relatively unchanged since completion of the 1950s building and 1970s additions. Due to this a large portion of the materials are at the end of life and some have begun to fail.

"By replacing the John Street facade, we have the opportunity to create a brand new visual identity for the building, with enhanced prominence from afar, tying into a bold new wayfinding and branding strategy for the building as a whole."

This will be achieved by replacing 1950s curtain walling, sandstone and granite with a 'battery pack bolt-on' building envelope to provide 21st-century energy efficiency. The practice added: "A dynamic, exciting and engaging new façade to the west, a battery pack bolt on to prolong the life of the building for another 60 years, will vastly improve energy efficiency but also aesthetic appeal, creating a clear new identity for the world leading CHATIC building..."

The opportunity to establish a new western 'front door' to the campus with an enlarged entrance will also be taken, with new lifts, a replacement lightweight stair and a rationalised circulation plan ensuring that the interior keeps pace with its new skin.

Adopting a similar colour palette to the Love Loan development with buff GRC cladding, red aluminium curtain walling and aluminium mesh rainscreen the centre will also include a partial sedum roof.

Visuals produced by Float Digital. 

6 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 31 Mar 2025 at 11:36 AM

Honking -- huge retrograde step.
Value engineering numbers game.
Cheaper would be better -- Oh no don't give them ideas.

Previous version was much better.

#2 Posted by Someone who actually knows and has a lot of experience in what they are talking about on 31 Mar 2025 at 12:00 PM

And there was me going to say, now that's a considered and well-balanced compostion to a facade. A lot better than the previous one. I could elaborate, but it's a comment section.
Not a clue what Fb is on.

#3 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 31 Mar 2025 at 12:09 PM

Paddy Power are paying out already.

The previous design was much better.
Statement design that enhanced the whole project.

New version -- dogs breakfast / no consistency around the entrance.

#4 Posted by KB on 31 Mar 2025 at 12:44 PM

While I'm all in favour of keeping older buildings that reflected and honoured the times they were built, the old 50s thing looks to me like a midden. Cheaply built and not fit for purpose. I can only imagine working/studying in that thing. Certainly looks like an improvement to me.

#5 Posted by Sir Ano on 31 Mar 2025 at 14:54 PM

I agree with Fat bloke, but you can't build what you can't afford.

#6 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 6 Apr 2025 at 12:11 PM

Design is poor -- very poor actually.
Budget issues might be a factor -- it happens.
Cost of quality comes into play or you further thrift the quality.

The area above the entrance panels / arrangement needs more vertical detailing in the red aluminium style to break up the hopefully cheaper cladding.

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