24 St Andrew Square

Sitting at the heart of the New Town conservation area, St Andrew Square is Edinburgh’s commercial and cultural hub. However, despite its enviable location, the dated interior and layout needed to be addressed to make it attractive to occupiers.

A full refurbishment programme was proposed to bring this elegant, listed building up to current market standards. Providing open plan, contemporary workspace, this focused on well-being, sustainability and accessibility.

Lacking a sense of arrival, the existing space functioned more as a hallway than a welcoming reception area. This has been enlarged and is more than double the size. Re-designing the entrance has brought in natural light, added colour, biophilia and a waiting area for visitors.

A high-quality platform lift appropriate to the conservation area has also been installed to create an accessible entrance. This was incorporated alongside reinstated traditional railings; the original railings having been removed in the 1960s.

To benefit from incredible views, natural light and to gain additional space, optimisation of the top two floors was essential. Extending the top floor added valuable floor space and increased ceiling height. And connecting the floors via a new spiral staircase has created a bright and spacious, luxury office suite.

Reconfiguring and repositioning the roof services plant has opened up an outdoor terrace area providing spectacular views of the city. Remodelling has transformed the upper floors and because outdoor space commands a premium price, added significant value for our client. With the addition of bespoke planters, there is also further enhancement of the building’s biodiversity.

And there are small changes too - lowering the sills of dormer windows to offer views of the square is typical of the project’s attention to detail.

Supporting health and wellbeing was an important element of the re-design.

Redundant plant space was utilised to create efficient wall mounted cycle storage. High-spec welfare facilities including changing areas, showers, drying room and a bike repair station were added at basement level, encouraging active travel.

The building has achieved BREEAM Excellent, EPC of A and is now fully electric, powered by air source heat pumps. And refurbishment of the existing building has saved over 5,000 tonnes of carbon compared to building new.