Design contract awarded for Glasgow George Square upgrade

PLANS to upgrade Glasgow’s main city centre square have taken a step further, with the awarding of a ‘design contract’.

Architecture practice, John McAslan + Partners, have been awarded the design contract for George Square, following a competitive process.

The practice has offices in Edinburgh, London and Australia.

Says Glasgow City Council – here, of the £2.293m contract: “Ninety-one expressions of interest in – and 17 submissions for – the design contract were made, with a shortlist of seven teams going to a final consideration on the criteria of quality and price before John McAslan + Partners were selected, with a score of 92.39 per cent.”

The announcement continues: “Alongside the development of a new design for George Square, Glasgow’s principal civic and cultural space, the George Square Area Strategy project will include the George Street and St Vincent Street / Place Avenues, as well as John Street, Dundas Street, Dundas Lane, and a new, high-quality pedestrian link from Queen Street Station to Argyle Street, passing through the square, Hanover Street and Miller Street.”

The proposed redesign of George Square is part of a wider regeneration initiative, the £115m ‘Avenues’ project, which recently celebrated the completion of one element – nearby Sauchiehall Street – as announced here.

Says that announcement: “Key features of Sauchiehall Avenue [aka Sauchiehall Street] include new, high-quality, public realm; enhanced and widened pavements that free up space for pedestrians and licensed tables and chairs; new (two-way) cycle paths; junction upgrades; 27 new trees (in a variety of deciduous species, with attractive colours throughout the year); new bus shelters, cycle stands, and seating; intelligent street lighting and ‘smart’ surface water management infrastructure.

“New public realm has also been delivered to the four streets to the south of Sauchiehall Street between Elmbank Street and Douglas Street.”

It adds: “The £115million Avenues programme is a quality place-making scheme that will transform 17 key streets and adjacent areas in Glasgow city centre through the introduction of an improved environment that will rebalance traffic modes, introduce green and smart infrastructure, with its design placing people firmly at the heart of the project.”

The council describes its Avenues project as “biggest of its kind in the UK”.

Pictured: George Square, Glasgow

Picture credit: Glasgow City Council