St Vincent Plaza in Glasgow launches public realm

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LDA Design were the Landscape Architects for the public realm scheme which forms part of the St Vincent Plaza development in Glasgow. The completion of this significant public space within the heart of the city marks LDA Design’s first constructed public realm project in Scotland. The space will be formally opened to the public when practical completion of the building is fully completed in September.

Developed by Abstract (Glasgow) Limited, St Vincent Plaza is a striking, efficient building which will provide 172,000 sq ft (15,979 sq m) of Grade A office space over lower ground, ground and ten upper floors. The landmark building features a granite and glazed façade which is complemented by Caithness stone and granite aggregate paving within the new public realm. Significantly, the new public realm, which creates a much needed pedestrian link from St Vincent Street to William Street and the Hilton Hotel, is one of Glasgow’s only newly created streetscapes in recent years, which will add a positive contribution to the city’s wider urban landscape. It is the most competitive new build City Centre office scheme anywhere in the UK.

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Within the space, raised planters create a dramatic terrace that includes mixed ornamental tree and shrub planting. This gives seasonal interest to the space and creates an appealing setting to the building which helps define St Vincent Plaza as Glasgow’s premier business address. The terraced plaza space also uses lighting to bring valuable dynamism to the public realm, changing the character of the space from day to night, in the way that the planting does from season to season.

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With a focus on making the new link a safe and well-lit, LDA Design worked closely with lighting designers Lightfolio and Castle Building Services to create a bespoke lighting scheme that will encourage activity and footfall to benefit both safe use and enhancement of the city’s evening economy. Up-lighting to the M8 underpass and new feature signage forms part of the gateway to the space, bringing further vibrancy to the Glasgow International Financial Services District (IFSD).

The scheme has been designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘B’ ratings; within the public realm, it focusses on the use of sustainable and high quality materials.

Image & Text Credit | LDA Design

About Damian Holmes 3253 Articles
Damian Holmes is the Founder and Editor of World Landscape Architecture (WLA). He is a registered landscape architect (AILA) working in international design practice in Australia. Damian founded WLA in 2007 to provide a website for landscape architects written by landscape architects. Connect on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianholmes/