One of Scotland's largest construction firms has won an important contract to bring Glasgow's famous Tontine Building back to its former glory.

Work is about to start on the historic Merchant City landmark, which will be used as the base for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.

The Tontine Building dates back to 1781 when it was constructed by William Hamilton behind the existing frontage of the Town Hall. The listed building was also a hotel whose coffee rooms historically drew Glasgow tobacco and textile merchants during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Owned by City Property Glasgow (Investments) LLP, the building is currently used as general office space.

Once work is completed in Summer 2011, the refurbished 108,000 sq ft building will provide staff accommodation for around 1,100 staff and for a key part of the Glasgow 2014 legacy.

City Building managing director Willie Docherty said: “We are delighted to be working on this prestigious project. This is a great opportunity to use this landmark property to secure and locate new employment opportunities to stimulate further growth in the local economy.

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“This extensive refurbishment will give the building a new lease of life and will help breathe new life in to this part of the Merchant City.”

Richard Brown, Managing Director at City Property, added: “The Tontine Building has a rich history and will now have a great future, becoming the beating heart of the Merchant City and a fantastic base for Glasgow 2014.”

The Chair of City Property, Councillor Irfan Rabbani, commented: “City Property is proud to be playing a major part in leaving a Games Legacy for Glasgow in the form of high-quality, high-profile office space in a tremendous location.

“Working together, we are laying strong foundations to build a great Commonwealth Games that will make Glasgow, Scotland and the Commonwealth proud.”

Glasgow 2014 Ltd is currently based in Monteith Street. The Tontine Building will give the Organising Committee the space to employ an expected 1,100 staff as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow in 2014. The physical move is expected to take place towards the end of 2011.

City Building apprentices will work on the project.

All furniture for the new building will be made and supplied by City Building’s Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (Blindcraft), which employs over 260 people, more than 50 per cent of whom have a disability.

The Tontine Building sits on the north west corner of Glasgow Cross, and is one of the most important buildings – in terms of architectural quality, scale and location – in the Merchant City. The building is listed.

(GK)