Adam Smith Business School Scheme
Woolgar Hunter are employed under a framework agreement with the University of Glasgow. Our client, as part of ongoing rationalisation of the campus, wanted to investigate the possibility of creating new basement space within the historic Gibert Scott building on Gilmourhill, in order to house the Adam Smith Business school. We were engaged alongside NORR architects to develop a potential design solution.
Client: University of Glasgow
Architect: NORR Architects
Adam Smith Business School Scheme
Woolgar Hunter are employed under a framework agreement with the University of Glasgow. Our client, as part of ongoing rationalisation of the campus, wanted to investigate the possibility of creating new basement space within the historic Gibert Scott building on Gilmourhill, in order to house the Adam Smith Business school. We were engaged alongside NORR architects to develop a potential design solution.
This dramatic project has only progressed to scheme design stage, however involved some fascinating engineering challenges.
The Gilbert Scott building is the current heart of the University. It was constructed around 1870 and named after its architect George Gilbert Scott. The proposed project would excavate out the eastern quadrangle courtyard to create a new basement space, linking into existing basements around the perimeter. Protection of the existing structures, as well as a mature oak tree , were paramount in the design concept.
We conceived of a reinforced concrete watertight basement box structure founded on the natural materials, and taking advantage of the excavated weight of soil. The high quality concrete would be exposed in the finished building. A steel framed protruding ‘drum’ was designed to signify the entrance down to the new facility and provided a focal point in the quadrangle. The new basement was designed to ‘stand off’ the existing building perimeter other than at connection points, allowing a services zone and avoiding risk of overloading existing foundations.
The scheme design considered the obvious buildability constraints of the enclosed site by utilising potentially pumped concrete and breaking down the steel structure into transportable pieces for erection.
This dramatic project has only progressed to scheme design stage, however involved some fascinating engineering challenges.
The Gilbert Scott building is the current heart of the University. It was constructed around 1870 and named after its architect George Gilbert Scott. The proposed project would excavate out the eastern quadrangle courtyard to create a new basement space, linking into existing basements around the perimeter. Protection of the existing structures, as well as a mature oak tree , were paramount in the design concept.
We conceived of a reinforced concrete watertight basement box structure founded on the natural materials, and taking advantage of the excavated weight of soil. The high quality concrete would be exposed in the finished building. A steel framed protruding ‘drum’ was designed to signify the entrance down to the new facility and provided a focal point in the quadrangle. The new basement was designed to ‘stand off’ the existing building perimeter other than at connection points, allowing a services zone and avoiding risk of overloading existing foundations.
The scheme design considered the obvious buildability constraints of the enclosed site by utilising potentially pumped concrete and breaking down the steel structure into transportable pieces for erection.
Client: University of Glasgow
Architect: NORR Architects