University of Glasgow Western Campus, Glasgow, for University of Glasgow and Multiplex, with LUC, AECOM, 7N and Arup

Redevelopment of the Western Campus of the University of Glasgow includes the refurbishment of four buildings; one of which, the Adam Smith business school required £50m of the £430m total project budget. The project encompasses 85,000sqm of student accommodation, learning, teaching, and research space; 26,000sqm of which will be the Keystone Building.

Who is on the project team? (designer, consultants, etc)

Client: University of Glasgow

Development Partner: Multiplex

Masterplan Lead: AECOM / 7N Architects

Public Realm / Landscape Designer: LUC

Infrastructure Designer: ARUP

Project Manager / Cost Consultants: Atkins Realis

Planning Consultant: Ryden

Describe the context of this project and the point it has reached in its development. Who was there in this place before development, where have they gone, who is there now and who will be there in future? When is the project expected to be complete?

The University of Glasgow Western Campus is located on the site of the former Western Infirmary Hospital. Originally a Victorian-era hospital the site was extended and modified throughout the 20th century with significant development in the 1960 / 70s. In 2015 the hospital closed with most of the facilities transferred to the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on the south side of the city. Under a legal agreement established between the hospital and the university in 1878, the site was offered to the university to purchase to facilitate the expansion of the historic Gilmorehill Campus which is centred on the iconic Gilbert Scott Main Building. Building on a campus development strategy prepared 2012-2015 the University submitted a Planning Permission in Principal application in 2016. Since consent in 2017 several components of the overall masterplan have been delivered. These include: - Refurbishment of University Avenue streetscape connecting the ‘Old’ Campus with the new. - James McCune Smith Learning and Teaching Hub - Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre - Clarice Pears Health and Wellbeing Building - Adam Smith Business School - 1st phase infrastructure and public realm on the Western Campus including St Mungos Square and rain gardens - Refurbishment of the Grade A listed Joseph Black Building The next phases include the delivery of the flagship ‘Keystone’ building on the east side of St Mungos Square and the construction of student accommodation. Both these projects will be delivered between 2024 – 2027 with future phases to follow thereafter. 

How are you seeking to foster community, welcome visitors and attract tenants? How are you responding to changing demographics, behaviour, market context, policy, transport habits and the climate crisis since winning planning?

A crucial driver of the overall project is the University’s desire to have an open, transparent and collaborative campus. A key objective was to create a place that will cultivate integration between the university, the local community and businesses. Placemaking was and is a central focus, with an emphasis on the creation of a variety of attractive public spaces and prioritising pedestrian access to create an inclusive welcoming environment. A new major public pedestrian thoroughfare now connects Byres Road to Kelvingrove Park and Kelvingrove Museum through the heart of the new campus. This affords local people an important active travel off-road route which is supporting a modal shift to more sustainable modes of movement in the wider West End. All the new buildings are community-facing, with publicly accessible ground floors to encourage people to interact and engage with university activities, and at the heart of the development is a new public square providing a focal point for public life and activity. With several buildings and public spaces now open and operational the University hosts a rich variety of public events and activities to welcome visitors and allow interaction with the community. Events include talks, debates, exhibitions, film screenings, music and theatre. Of note is the hugely popular annual ‘Ceilidh in the Square’. The University of proud to offer its spaces to host community groups and not-for-profit organisations free of charge.

What is your sustainability strategy and how are you mitigating carbon use and construction pollution?

The Western Campus project is committed to sustainability and low-carbon solutions, aligning with contemporary environmental standards. The sustainability strategy encompasses several key initiatives to minimise the project’s environmental footprint. Key considerations include: • Several historic hospital buildings have been retained and have been integrated into the masterplan via repurposing and refurbishment. • The site levels have been carefully developed to maximise the use of recycled material, minimise the quantity of material going to landfill, and minimise the quantity of imported material. • Low carbon Active Travel movement has been facilitated and the use of cars discouraged. This is largely achieved via the concept of a car-free campus. Except for limited accessible parking no standard car parking is provided on the new campus whereas substantive cycle parking has been incorporated. • Significant SuDS infrastructure, including substantial rain gardens, has been incorporated into the public realm areas often enhancing biodiversity through native tree, shrub and wildflower planting. • Bio-reliance is accommodated through a selection of a wide variety of native tree and shrub stock; The project has also emphasised the use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient technologies in all construction activities. Thoughtful consideration has been given to the selection of materials and components that prioritise longevity and environmental responsibility. The commitment to energy-efficient lighting further contributes to reducing carbon use during the project’s operational phase.