A new office fit-out project for Morris & Spottiswood's own Glasgow premises has demonstrated significant embodied carbon savings, equivalent to driving 45,255km in a large diesel car – enough to circumnavigate the globe.

The project, which relocated the company's Glasgow office to Eastworks in the Dalmarnock area, heavily incorporated modular construction and circular economy principles.

The initiative provided an opportunity for Morris & Spottiswood to showcase its comprehensive end-to-end service capabilities, drawing on expertise from across the wider Group. A primary focus was carbon reduction, achieved through a circular approach that included repurposing existing flooring finishes and sourcing second-hand furniture via partner company, Inspire Spaces. This reuse of materials alone reduced the project’s carbon impact by 7.591 tonnes CO2e, an 8.73% saving compared to procuring entirely new materials and products.

Furthermore, the implementation of an innovative ‘plug and play’ modular pod system resulted in an additional saving of 1.790 tonnes CO2e compared to traditional construction methods – an amount equivalent to flying 11,701km in short-haul economy. These prefabricated pods are manufactured offsite with integrated cabling, lighting, and services, allowing for rapid onsite assembly and connection to a standard power supply. The pods are fully demountable and can be easily reconfigured or relocated if future needs change. This modular design significantly accelerates project delivery and reduces waste due to precision factory engineering.

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Gordon Clyne, Joint Managing Director at Morris & Spottiswood, commented: “The pods have enabled us to deliver a high-quality fit-out within much shorter timescales. In this instance, we installed a glass-fronted boardroom, flanked by two adjoining multi-purpose office spaces. The three pods were assembled and functional within four days – a feat that would have taken several weeks if we were required to construct and connect the spaces using traditional methods."

He added: “From work commencing on site in early January, to project completion at the end of March, this project has been delivered at an accelerated pace without compromising on quality – a testament to the efficiencies, both in time and carbon savings, that can be achieved by a multi-disciplinary service provider, such as the wider Morris & Spottiswood Group."

Decarbonisation was a key priority throughout. A Lifecycle Carbon Assessment (LCA) conducted by crbn solutions, another Morris & Spottiswood Group business specialising in carbon reduction strategies, found the project’s upfront embodied carbon to be 93kg CO2e/m². This figure is significantly lower than the current 2025 threshold suggested by the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard (260kg CO2e/m²) and also meets the 2038 target of less than 100kg CO2e/m².

Oliver Connew, Associate at crbn solutions, said: “We viewed the Dalmarnock office move as an opportunity to deliver a flagship project that demonstrates our full service offering and incorporates the latest in fit-out approaches. The carbon reductions found in the LCA are a clear indication of this and reflect the careful decision making that has gone into every aspect of the project – from purposefully choosing a building that offers long term energy security, being part of a district heat network, to considering things such as the local transport facilities to help reduce travel-related carbon."

The project exemplified the Group's end-to-end service offering, with nine businesses within the portfolio collaborating seamlessly. This included the LCA by crbn solutions; architectural design and building warrant applications managed by McLennan Chartered Architects (who also contributed to interior design alongside Inspire Spaces); M&E design and installation by Livingston; materials from Builders Station; flooring by Morris & Spottiswood’s Flooring division; and bespoke carpentry from the in-house joinery workshop.

The new office, which includes an Inspire Spaces furniture showcase and hospitality area on the upper floor, was officially opened to staff at a celebratory event on Thursday, 24th April 2025. The event was attended by George Morris, Chairman of the Morris & Spottiswood Group and grandson of founder George Morris, and his mother, Janet Morris.