Scotland’s best workplaces crowned at BCO Awards – Scottish Business News

SCOTLAND’S most outstanding workplaces have been announced, with British Council for Offices’ Awards going to six office buildings across the country. 

Held at the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow, on 26 April, the BCO’s annual Scottish Awards Lunch recognised projects that demonstrate best practice in office design, fit-out, operation and sustainability, setting the standard for excellence across the sector.

The winners of this year’s competition in Scotland stand out for their unparalleled drive to set new sustainability benchmarks, as well as for ensuring occupiers and local communities are at the heart of each development.

In its second year, the ESG Award continues to celebrate the achievements of offices that excel in responding to the sector’s changing environmental, social and governance needs.

The BCO Regional Award winners for Scotland are:

• The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), Renfrew (Corporate Workplace)
• 1 New Park Square, Edinburgh (Commercial Workplace)
• Deloitte, Edinburgh (Fit-out of Workplace)
• Statkraft, The Garment Factory, Glasgow (Projects up to 2,500m2)
• Eastworks, Glasgow (Refurbished/Recycled)
• The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), Renfrew (ESG)

The annual Chair’s Award for an outstanding contribution to the property industry in the region, was presented to Graeme Bone, MD of Drum Property Group.

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, Renfrew, was presented with not only the coveted ‘Corporate Workplace’ but also the award for ESG. Built for the University of Strathclyde and designed by HLM Architects, the judges were hugely impressed that it sets a new standard in environmental and energy achievements, earning BREEAM ‘outstanding’. A pivotal anchor for future development, NMIS is attracting global manufacturers as well as bridging small innovative businesses with larger organisations in an inspiring collaborative space.  Its commitment to sustainability, innovation and industry collaboration is quickly establishing NMIS as a beacon of excellence.

Parabola’s ‘1 New Park Square’, Edinburgh, designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, was presented with the award for Best Commercial Workplace. An 87,500 sq. ft. ‘Grade A’ office development, the judging panel awarded this building for its world-class arrival experience and openplan floors. Commenting that this is an exceptional building using high quality finishes andattention to detail throughout, the judges recognised its blend of natural materials and exposed concrete.  The needs of tenants have been well understood with the provision of excellent health and wellbeing facilities as well as public restaurants, which have become an attraction in their own right. The panel commented that 1 New Park Square marks the start of the next exciting phase of development in Edinburgh Park.

Deloitte in Edinburgh, designed by Perkins & Will, was presented with the award for Best Fit Out of Workplace with the judging panel impressed by its drive to create an inclusive and sustainable workplace, making barriers invisible and fostering a sense of community. Home to 450 staff and occupying a floor in the new Haymarket Square Building, the panel appreciated the extensive staff engagement, which allowed Deloitte to deliver space with connectivity, flexibility, and collaboration at the heart of its design.

The Award for Projects Up to 2,500 m2 went to Statkraft at the Garment Factory, Glasgow, designed by Graven. A global renewable energy business, Statkraft has created a welcoming space for collaboration, bringing the outdoors inside, with sustainability at its core.  Representing Statkraft’s values and Norwegian heritage, the judges were impressed that they had incorporated reclaimed, recycled and upcycled elements throughout, whilst respecting the existing characteristics of the existing building. The panel felt that Statkraft has created a unique space which is clearly loved and enjoyed by its team. 

Eastworks in Glasgow, designed for Clyde Gateway by Sheppard Robson and INCH Architecture and Design, took home the award for Best Refurbished / Recycled Project. Preserving and reinventing a prominent structure from Glasgow’s Victorian industrial past, Eastworks offers five creative work spaces totalling 31,700 ft².  The 94m-long, double-barrelled structure has been divided to create dramatic office space flooded with natural light with vibrant orange staircases and central mezzanines. The judges were particularly impressed with the community engagement and regeneration that underpins this project; transforming a vacant and derelict structure into light-filled workspaces that create future employment opportunities in the area.

The Scottish winners will compete for the BCO National Awards on 8^th October 2024.

The lead sponsor for this year’s BCO Awards is ISG. Category and Gold sponsors are AECOM and Troup Bywaters + Anders, with Ryden as this year’s regional sponsor. The BCO awards are in association with EG.

Gillian Stewart, Chair of the BCO in Scotland, said: “Occupiers and communities, both within buildings and in their local neighbourhoods, have continued to be driving forces for developers, whether they are building speculatively or on behalf of a client. In the drive to attract people back to our cities, and to build networks within these buildings, we are seeing influences from the hotel and leisure sectors, as well as more focus on softer, people-centred elements.

“People, whether occupiers or the teams behind these developments, continue, rightly, to drive change within the sector. We are seeing recovery from the last few years in the form of exciting, innovative developments, and I feel optimistic that this will continue.”

Donald Reid, Chair of the Scottish Judging Panel, added: “Having spent several days visiting the very best of Scotland’s office projects, the judging panel again had some tough decisions to make. We have seen a continued focus on ESG, wellbeing and hybrid working, as well as community being put at the heart of the development process. Every year, the sector evolves and we see the highest standards of examples of fresh thinking and innovation, which makes the judging process challenging. I would like to congratulate this year’s winners for delivering exciting, future-proofed and sustainable offices to the Scottish market.”