Images by Paul Zanre of South Gyle offices:
Michael Laird Architects
2005-07
Photographs © Paul Zanre
EHQ – Office building for Premier Property Group
New office development, 6 South Gyle Crescent, South Gyle, Edinburgh
Bold expressed metal ‘picture frames’ interrupt a rhythm of
clear glazing and coloured Alucabond panels. The picture frames are located
asymmetrically across the facades denoting entrances at ground level and
identifying office suites on upper floors. The random pattern of vertical
glazing fins and colour enlivens the façade.
Photographs © Paul Zanre
This is the third office building designed by MLA for the Premier Property
Group, including the award-winning Excel House in Semple Street, Edinburgh.
Photograph © Jason Baxter
This speculative office development is located near Edinburgh Park on
the western edge of Edinburgh. It involved the demolition of all buildings
on the former BAe Systems site and now forms the gateway to the South
Gyle business district from Edinburgh city centre.
Photograph © Jason Baxter
The £13m building includes 10,200 sqm of office space over three
floors, arranged around a central courtyard to provide open plan office
accommodation in nominal widths of 14 and 24 metres.
Photograph © Jason Baxter
The external facade consists of curtain walling with elements
of rainscreen cladding around core areas. The regular mullion grid is
broken with randomly located intermediate mullions that modulate the rhythm
of glazing across the facade. The glazing rhythm is also staggered between
floors and punctuated with coloured Alucabond panels, glazed into the
curtain walling system. The slender mullion face caps are split between
floors to give a light feel to the facade.
Photograph © Jason Baxter
The new building is Phase One of a larger masterplan drawn up by MLA for
the entire site.
Photograph © Jason Baxter
Recent buildings by Michael Laird Architects on South Gyle Crescent –
Building 38 and the BCO-award winning Gyle Square – have gone a long
way to enhance the area, moving it away from predominantly industrial
to a recognised office location. Central to the development of the EHQ
site was the intention to make a vibrant addition at the eastern gateway
to the city.
Photograph © Jason Baxter
EHQ Building Edinburgh - Professional Team
Developer Premier Property Group
Architect Michael Laird Architects
Project Manager Cyril Sweett Ltd
Structural Engineer PWP Consulting LLP
M&E Engineer Graham Mather Associates
Quantity Surveyor CBA
Transport Consultant Colin Buchanan and Partners
Landscape Architect EDAW plc
Photograph © Jason Baxter
The building was completed October 2007. It went on site in May 2006
A single subcontractor constructed the complex facade: there were no interfaces
with other work packages leading to economy, efficiency and speed of construction.
The Lightning Park proposal now involves complete demolition of the original
building
Lightning Park Edinburgh - Building PR from 2005:
CGI by pixelimage
Introduction
Office Redevelopment, 6 South Gyle Crescent, South Gyle, Edinburgh
The redevelopment of the BAe Systems site by Premier Property Group on
the western edge of Edinburgh involves demolition of all buildings, except
the two-storey office block facing the roundabout. The Lightning Park
proposal involves partial demolition of this building: structure and floor
slabs will be retained with a floor added on top and moderate expansion
on three sides.
CGI by pixelimage
A new three-storey 10,200 sqm office building is to be built incorporating
the retained two-storey superstructure. The new building will be arranged
around a central courtyard to provide open plan office accommodation in
nominal widths of 14 and 24 metres.
CGI by pixelimage
As the new three-storey office building is intended to form Phase One
of an overall development of the site this document also provides a proposed
masterplan for the entire site. This masterplan is intended to help fully
explain the design rationale of the new office building and wider site.
Central to the development of the site is the intention to create a high
quality environment that will make a vibrant, exciting and relevant addition
to the surrounding area.
Other buildings by Michael Laird Architects for Premier Property Group
include Excel House and Semple St Offices.
EHQ
CGI by pixelimage
Michael Laird Architects
EHQ, South Gyle: Professional Team
Developer Premier Property Group
Architect Michael Laird Architects
Project Manager Cyril Sweett Ltd
Structural Engineer PWP Consulting LLP
M&E Engineer Graham Mather Associates
Quantity Surveyor CBA
Transport Consultant Colin Buchanan and Partners
Landscape Architect EDAW plc
CGI by pixelimage
Adjacent buildings include One Gyle
Square also by Michael Laird Architects.
BAe buildings also featured on the site: BAE
Building, Crewe Toll, Edinburgh.
The Lightning Park offices are on the eastern edge of the Edinburgh
Park business area.
Scottish
Architecture
Edinburgh News : index
Jason Baxter Photography: www.jasonbaxter.net
Other Edinburgh offices by Michael Laird Architects include Tanfield,
Standard Life Lothian Road ,
Standard Life George Street ,
Edinburgh Quay , Lochrin
Square and Premier Property Group
on Semple St
Comments / photos for the EHQ office building page welcome:
info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk
South Gyle building - page:
adrian welch / isabelle lomholt