1 Atlantic Square is a high-rise office building located at Atlantic Square within the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is currently the Scottish headquarters of HM Revenue and Customs and Second headquarters of the Cabinet Office, and is one of two buildings located at Atlantic Square, with the smaller 2 Atlantic Square, a 7-storey office building, situated next to the building. The 300,000 sqft building cost £150 million to construct by BAM Construction (BAM TCP Atlantic Square) and was designed by BAM Design and Cooper Cromer.[1]

1 Atlantic Square
1 Atlantic Square
Map
General information
Architectural styleModernist
AddressAtlantic Square, Argyle Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 8JQ
Coordinates55°51′30″N 4°15′47″W / 55.858357°N 4.263013°W / 55.858357; -4.263013
Year(s) built2018–2022
GroundbreakingMarch 2018
Construction startedMarch 2018
Completed2022
OpenedJune 2022
Cost£150 million
OwnerHM Revenue and Customs
Technical details
Size300,000 sqft
Floor count10
Floor area284,000 sqft
Design and construction
Architect(s)BAM Design
Cooper Cromer
Architecture firmBAM Construction
Other information
ParkingYes

Background

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Planning permission was submitted by BAM TCP Atlantic Square to Glasgow City Council on 28 September 2017.[2] The planning application stated that the intended usage for development was the erection of mixed use development at the site.[2]

On 16 October 2017, Glasgow City Council made a decision relating to the planning application which had been submitted, and the council issued no objections to the proposed development and agreed on the discharges of obligations.[3] There were, however, a total of 11 constraints associated with the proposed development at the site.[4]

Construction

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TCP ATLANTIC SQUARE LIMITED, based in London, had purchased the site in April 2002 for £5,150,000.[5] In February 2018, LGIM Real Assets (Legal & General) confirmed that construction on 1 Atlantic Square was set to commence in March 2018.[6] Prior to construction beginning, HM Revenue and Customs had already signed a 20-year lease on the building, making it the agencies main HQ in Scotland.[6] Construction was completed by 2022, and HMRC began to move 2,600 HMRC staff and 270 Cabinet Office staff in to the building. By 2025, it is expected that more than 3,500 civil servants will be based at the office.[7]

2 Atlantic Square

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2 Atlantic Square (Scottish Gaelic: 1 Ceàrnag an Atlantaig) is a 7-storey Grade A office building located within the International Financial Services District, direct next to 1 Atlantic Square.[8] 2 Atlantic Square is the second development at Atlantic Square following the taller tower 1 Atlantic Square situated next to the building.

Hailed as a "flagship development" within the city of Glasgow,[9] the building is home to some of the world's most "prestigious" companies including BDO Global, Atkins and Siemens.[10]

Background

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Planning permission was submitted by BAM TCP Atlantic Square to Glasgow City Council on 28 September 2017.[2] The planning application stated that the intended usage for development was the erection of mixed use development at the site.[2]

On 16 October 2017, Glasgow City Council made a decision relating to the planning application which had been submitted, and the council issued no objections to the proposed development and agreed on the discharges of obligations.[3] There were, however, a total of 11 constraints associated with the proposed development at the site.[4]

The 2 Atlantic Square development is part of a wider Scottish investment by BDO, with the company investing in refurbishment work at an office development in Edinburgh.[11] 2 Atlantic Square is marketed as a Grade A office space development, with 77,219 sq ft of space available for businesses. Representing a Grade A vacancy rate of 0.34%, 2 Atlantic Square was in part responsible for Glasgow's office rents growing to £35.25 per sq ft in the last quarter of 2021.[12]

Construction

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TCP ATLANTIC SQUARE LIMITED, based in London, had purchased the site in April 2002 for £5,150,000.[5] In February 2018, LGIM Real Assets (Legal & General) confirmed that construction on 1 Atlantic Square was set to commence in March 2018.[6]

Upon completion and opening, Dougie Peters, BAM Properties managing director, said of 2 Atlantic Square “Market interest in 2 Atlantic Square remains very high and the quality and strategic location of the building has undoubtedly been instrumental in attracting another high-profile client BDO. We are delighted to have secured this agreement with BDO, highlighting the strong continuing demand for Grade A, sustainable commercial office space in Glasgow.”[10]

Features

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2 Atlantic Square features 24/7 security as well as featuring blast proof glass.[13]

In 2021, the planning department at Glasgow City Council granted planning permission for a 204 seated restaurant with permission granted for the restaurant to sell alcohol. The restaurant is located on the ground level of 2 Atlantic Square, with the remaining floors being office space.[14]

Tenants

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The building has a variety of tenants either owning or renting office space. As of September 2023, the current tenants are:

FL# Companies
7 Plant / PV panels / green roof
6 Atkins
5 Atkins
BDO Global
4 Burness Paull
3 Siemens
2 Vacant
1 Vacant
Ground Retail / reception / showers
Lower Ground Parking & cycle storage/lockers & shower facilities

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Atlantic Square, Glasgow Trading places: new connections to old tradition". BAM Construction. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Planning Application" (PDF). Glasgow City Council. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Erection of mixed development (planning permission in principle) comprising building(s) 1, 2 and 3 Atlantic Square, incorporating offices (Class 4), hotel (sui generis), ancillary ground floor uses (licensed premises), retail (Class 1), food and drink (Class 3), assembly and leisure (Class 11) and public house (sui generis) with associated access, servicing, basement car parking with formation of enclosed public realm, and ground engineering works. Also seeking (approval of matters specified by conditions) for the erection of building 1 Atlantic Square, comprising offices and ancillary ground floor retail/commercial uses, plus temporary site enhancement works and use of adjacent ground as temporary surface car park (37 spaces) - Discharge of Planning Obligation relating to 09/00860/DC" (PDF). Glasgow City Council. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Constraints - Atlantic Square development". Glasgow City Council. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Land Register" (PDF). Land Registry of Scotland. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Development of Grade A office space at Atlantic Square, Glasgow to start in March for major UK Government hub". Legal and General. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  7. ^ "HMRC new Glasgow headquarters is officially opened at Atlantic Square". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  8. ^ "2 Atlantic Square York St". Loop Net UK. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Office Space Available , 2 Atlantic Square, Glasgow, G2 8JQ". Nova Loca. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  10. ^ a b "BDO LLP moves into 2 Atlantic Square". Scottish Construction Now. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  11. ^ "BDO invests in Edinburgh office refurbishment". Insider.co.uk. Insider. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  12. ^ "CBRE: Glasgow office market sees highest quarterly take-up since Q4 2019". Scottish Construction Now. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  13. ^ "2 Atlantic Square" (PDF). JLL, Ryden and CBRE. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  14. ^ "New Glasgow restaurant set to open as part of 'massive' Atlantic Square development". Glasgow Live. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
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