Year in Review 2024

As a new year approaches, we’re taking a moment to appreciate the highlights of 2024. Projects completed or underway, awards won and celebrations shared with friends and colleagues.

2024 has been a year of growth and change.

MLA Manchester celebrates its first year

In May, friends from the Manchester property sector joined us to celebrate our Manchester office’s first year in operation. It was a great opportunity to reflect on our first year’s successes and look forward to the year ahead.

MLA Office trip to Manchester

Also, in honour of our inaugural year the full MLA team took a trip to the northern powerhouse city. As well as visiting key MLA projects at One Spinningfields and Freetrade we were inspired by a historical, architectural tour of Manchester’s important sites.

MLA turns 70!

A big birthday for MLA in September!

We celebrated 70 years of MLA with an ‘alumni’ afternoon tea, a party at the Johnnie Walker Experience for our industry friends and a BBQ for the MLA team. With seven decades of projects and experiences, there was a lot to reflect on.

Re-brand 2024

In October this year our new brand was launched, taking us forward with a bold and vibrant new identity. And with our new website we can better represent our three integrated services of Architecture, Interior Design and Strategic Consultancy and showcase some of our fantastic work.

9 Day Fortnight

Ways of working are evolving, and MLA are trialling something new. Our team members have the option of compressing their hours over 9 days to enjoy a non-working day once a fortnight. The six-month trial started in September and we’ll be sharing our learnings as we progress.

Awards

2024 has been an award-winning year for MLA: –

Architect’s Journal Architecture Awards -Winner – Editor’s Choice Rosebank Distillery

Architect’s Journal Architecture Awards-Winner – Leisure Project Rosebank Distillery

Mix Interiors Awards Winner – Public and Cultural Interiors – Rosebank Distillery

GIA Awards2024 -Commendation – Office, Industrial, Retail Rosebank Distillery

Herald Property Awards -Winner – Best Regeneration Project Rosebank Distillery

BCO Awards (Regional – North of England) Winner – Corporate Workplace- 1 Spinningfields Square

Project Spotlight

Some fantastic projects completed this year and many others are underway. Here are just some of our highlights: –

Commercial, New Build and Retrofit

Meldrum House recently reopened as The Resident Hotel in Edinburgh after the former office buildings transformational retrofit programme.

Redevelopment of Edinburgh’s 30 Semple Street will be completed in early 2025 providing exceptional modern office accommodation with the highest environmental and sustainability accreditations in Scotland.

Exchange Place One in Edinburgh’s financial district has been granted planning consent. A significant refurbishment will focus on improving the buildings ESG credentials and will provide the city with much needed high quality office space.

Refurbishment and Internal Fitout

TSB completed their move to the BCO award winning 8 Bishopsgate in September, creating a ‘destination space’ for their team. MLA’s design aligned with the client’s vision for a flexible, inclusive, and progressive working environment.

Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP moved into their new office which provides them with a collaborative space fostering connection across their business.

And as they continue the upgrade  of their estates, we ‘ve designed ‘people-focussed’ offices for  Brodies in Glasgow and Evelyn Partners in Leeds.

Residential, BTR & Student (PBSA)

The first phase of the Wireworks development in Musselburgh for Dundas Estates has completed, providing the area with much needed residential accommodation

The redevelopment of Edinburgh’s former Tynecastle High School to create student accommodation is making significant progress and will be ready for students in Summer 2025.

The restoration of Douglas House was the first completed phase of our ‘Dean Village View’ project in Edinburgh for AMA Homes which also replaces the former 1980’s Belford House.

Haymarket Yards purpose-built student accommodation is well underway with the ‘topping out’ ceremony celebrated recently.

Labs, Data Centre and Industrial

Development of the South Cambridge Science Centre state-of-the-art laboratory and office space in the sought after ‘Golden Triangle’ continues at pace with phase one due to open next Spring.

And in Prestwick, MLA have completed an aircraft hangar designed for rapid response procedures.

Distilleries

Two stunning distillery projects opened their doors in June 2024. Rosebank distillery in Falkirk after three decades of closure and Port Ellen in Islay, after four. We were delighted to see these incredible buildings brought back to life.

We hope you enjoyed our round-up of 2024. If you’d like to be updated with project news, events and industry insights in 2025 then please subscribe to our newsletter using the link below.