Wasn't sure about this at first but having passed this the other day it’s pretty sharp

Definitely a cut above the usual student resi dross that we have seen on here of late

Isn't this clad in a porcelain type rain screen? To me it looks cheap when viewed close up and they've got the massing all wrong! The top of the fake stone mass should line through with the adjacent buildings cornice and the upper floors set back. I recall that when the Shack went up in flames and was subsequently demolished, there were assurances that this site would only be developed with a building of exceptional quality. Sorry but I don't think this is good enough.

Let's face it Ollie, when was the last time glasgow city centre saw a build of 'exceptional quality?' 1937? Adjusted to 'glasgow scale' this is a solid 8 and a welcome addition.

Have to agree with #3 this is a solid decent development.

So its never going to win a major architectural prize but its head and shoulders above any student residences that have been built in Glasgow recently.

I think this is great. I'm getting a bit bored of the 'line it through with the adjacent cornice' rubbish these days. The City thrives on its rich tapestry of style and size, so more variety of scale is actually a good thing, and reinforces the character of the grid. It's simply not as simple as referring blindly to the immediate neighbour.

Whilst its obviously not of true award winning quality, if we had a dozen or so more buildings as good as this in key sites around the City that would be a great thing.

A well executed development which makes a positive contribution to Glasgow. 8.5 out of 10 for me

Yip. Those upper glazed floors are definitely invisible to the naked eye

Can someone explain to me in simple terms the economics of student housing. Why has it relatively recently become such an attractive investment? Does Brexit not scare off any investors in this type of project.

an 8 and an 8.5? out of 100?
Astonishing how low the bar is set for student housing, just because it's better than other guff of the same type doesn't mean much - "would you like the 99p turd sandwich or the m&s excrement on sourdough?"

The economics of student housing:
Most students in the UK survive on loans that will bring them years of debt. This is now seen as quite normal. Landlords can charge extortionate sums for these properties because it's paid for by the loan. If the loan system changes the market will collapse overnight. And it's easier building than real residential development - cram the units in, stack them high - you don't need to provide parking spaces.

for years students survived in council hard to let housing and potential death traps so is it not right that some fit accommodation is provided. even with the massive construction program its still a small percentage of accommodation compared to total student numbers. if these go to overseas students who cough up, meh... Mr Moneybags seems to forget where his pension fund, insurance or bank is investing his easy earned.....

The majority of these lets go to foreign students, who often come from wealthy-ish backgrounds and therefore demand a better standard of accommodation than the usual six-to-one-bathroom Govanhill HMO that's been the case until recently. Of course, student housing doesn't sprout up in a vacuum, it's a response to universities' pursuit of the eye-watering fees foreign students are willing to pay, especially given that Scottish unis can't jack up prices for the domestic market in the way they can in England and elsewhere. As an aside, you could argue that it helps devalue degrees somewhat when lecturers come under some - let's call it persuasion - that failing a Chinese student (for example) should be an act of last resort, regardless of the quality of their work.

As places to live, I think they're fine and bring a great deal of life and community to parts of our cities that would otherwise be moribund. Let's not forget that before this was built we had a hole in the ground for fifteen years. Is it stunning? No. Does it do the job? Yes.

#12 - damn right! Just hope that Brexit won't stop these Chinese students from flocking in...

Architecturally this makes no sense in size, composition or use. Their was a time no Glasgow student crossed the road from the west End east to the city centre and no Strathclyde student would go much pass George Street. It seems that today that students are moving closer to the city centre due to foreign student demand. Personally I think we have lost more here than built.

There's been a massive expansion in Universities and further education colleges. Basically nobody wants to be a joiner or a brickie these days as have been sold some dream of further education and now want a 2/2 in Media studies and a £30k debt.

Traditionally, the Weegie universities attracted most of their students locally and those who came from farther afield lived in squalid, rotten death traps in the west end.

The econoomics of this were and are unsustainable. The numbers of Scottish and EU students are now restricted (as there is no such thing as a free lunch or a free education) and the universities are plundering the cash cows of other British and non EU students basically to make ends meet. The consequance is that there are not enough squalid, rotten west end death traps to go round, so there is the market opportunity. Its no surprise that student housing property funds are booming. Its a gift that keeps on giving. High density, brown field, no parking and 100% occupancy rate. I know where I am investing some of my ill gotten money.

So what's the downside? Single tenure and lack of diversity as huge numbers of students descend on one area. Up sides? Lots of tesco metros, convenience stores and kebab shops doing very well. As the building is reained as an asset there is a huge insentive to maintain and protect the asset by the building managers. The solution? Pay for your education and open up Scottish universities to scottish students and take the pressure off accomodation required to house foreign students.