Sheppard Robson has completed a £14 million remodelling of the University of Strathclyde’s Lord Hope and Curran buildings in Glasgow city centre for the newly formed Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences.

Forming part of the university’s new Humanities and Social Sciences Quarter, the extensive alteration works to the existing Lord Hope and Curran Buildings represent a key project in the university’s campus development plan.

Prof Anthony McGrew, Dean of the Faculty, said: "Sheppard Robson’s radical design solution to this extensive alteration project successfully supports our dynamic and re-focused campus in the heart of Glasgow.

"Co-locating staff formerly based at Jordanhill to our city centre campus will have a major impact in allowing our recently formed Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences to build on existing discipline-based strengths and develop cross-disciplinary themes in research, knowledge exchange and education.

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"Our newly refurbished accommodation enhances our sense of identity by providing an innovative and inviting teaching environment for students while encouraging interdisciplinary working between staff."

James Dick, head of Sheppard Robson’s Scottish office, said: "This project has delivered high specification office, learning and teaching accommodation, supplemented by attendant support and specialist teaching facilities.

"Office and teaching spaces have been designed in line with the university’s space planning policy. Having analysed the way the occupants of the buildings work on a daily basis, we have remodelled the buildings to provide a flexibly divided floor plate that can accommodate future change that is more spatially efficient."

Each floor of the buildings now has a large open plan work space around the perimeter, ensuring maximum opportunity for daylight and ventilation, with a well defined core space, with attendant support areas like meeting rooms, breakout hubs, touchdown areas and welfare.

The remodelling sees workspace for all faculty staff located together within the Lord Hope building to enhance the faculty identity and encourage interdisciplinary co-operation.

Between the two buildings a new external area of public realm provides a focus for the entrances, enhancing their setting and legibility. The courtyard design also anticipates the new Sports Centre building to the south-west and, together, these buildings will create a new learning quarter for the campus. High quality finishes, landscaping and street furniture ensure this south facing courtyard space will be well used by students and staff alike.

The 9,390 sq m building at 141/101 St James Road, Glasgow, has been constructed at a cost of £14m.

(GK)