Wylie Shanks Architects - Business Excellence Award

Photo of presentation shows Iain MacLaren, principal of Wylie Shanks Architects centre, with Alison Sinclair, Chief executive and Peter Watson, Deputy Chairman of GSWRA Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency last week hosted their annual Business Excellence Awards at House for An Art Lover in Glasgow. The ceremony recognises excellence in partnership working and is the agencies way of thanking those who have made a positive contribution towards improving the communities of south west Glasgow.

Wylie Shanks Architects were one of the companies being recognised for their commitment to partnership working for their involvement in the Orkney Street redevelopment project. The project at Orkney Street is the £3.5 million refurbishment of a Grade 2 listed building, transforming what was the former Govan Police Station and original Burgh Hall into a state-of-the-art business centre.

Tommy Docherty, Deputy Chief Executive of Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency said, 'We were delighted to give Wylie Shanks Architects and the Orkney Street Design Team this award. The Orkney Street project has presented one or two major challenges in terms of finance and design but with the support of Wylie and Shanks we have managed to strike that balance of maintaining the architectural importance of the building and making it fit for today's use as a business centre. Thankfully, the end is in sight and we're about to take ownership of a wonderful new building. It seems fitting that Wylie Shanks Architects and the team should be awarded for their commitment and professionalism throughout the process.

Iain MacLaren, conservation accredited architect and partner at Wylie Shanks Architects, accepted the trophy on behalf of the design team and said,' We are delighted that the team's work over several years has been rewarded by our client in this way. It has been an interesting journey from the original ambitious 'blue sky' proposals for the site to where we are now, and with three of the units already let, it will not be long before the building starts its new life.'

3D images by Wylie Shanks Architects showing the building as proposed.

The conversion sees the former Burgh Hall and police cells adapted for open plan and 'incubator' community offices, with new vertical circulation and secure parking. The previously painted and `blackened` stone facade has been restored, with the north wing having its facade rebuilt and a new floor added. Various later uncomplimentary additions to the grade B listed John Burnett designed original have been removed and new curtain walled stair/lift towers inserted, providing visual clarity to the two separate building types. The main contractor for the £3.2m project was Hunter Clark.

A booklet with the history of the building and its place in Govan's history is due for launch for the opening early next year, and one of the original cells has been retained as a 'museum' piece.