Michael Laird and Sir Robert McAlpine scheme wins BCO award

A refurbished office in Livingston, Edinburgh, has been named the best UK workplace of 2013 at the British Council for Offices (BCO) annual awards.

The office scheme was designed by Michael Laird Architects, engineer Arup, M&E engineer KJ Tait and quantity surveyor CBA and constructed by Sir Robert McAlpine.

It is occupied by manufacturer W.L. Gore & Associates (UK).

The office was also recognised as the best ‘Refurbished/Recycled Workplace’ in the UK, and topped a list of six other award winners recognised for excellence in office space. These were:

  • Commercial Workplace: Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London
  • Corporate Workplace: Birmingham City Council, 10 Woodstock Street, Birmingham
  • ‘Best of the Best’ and Refurbished/Recycled Workplace: W.L. Gore & Associates (UK), Fabrics Division, Simpson Parkway, Kirkton Campus, Livingston, Edinburgh
  • Fit Out of Workplace: Astellas European headquarters, 2000 Hillswood Drive, Chertsey
  • Project up to 2,000m2:  Nestlé  Product Technology Centre, York
  • Innovation: Siemens’ The Crystal, Royal Docks, 1 Siemens Brothers Way, London
  • Test of Time: Memphis Building, Lingfield Point, Darlington

The BCO judges said: “W.L. Gore & Associates (UK) refurbished office was singled out because, after 30 years of service, the company has upgraded its workplace to create a superior environment for staff and improve the facility’s environmental performance. 

“The transformed office has new external break-out spaces and an open-plan design, whilst the company’s history is represented creatively in the entrance foyer, with a timeline and pictures marking its major achievements.

“The new ‘heart’ of the building is centrally located adjacent to the staff canteen, with views over the landscaped gardens and lake below.”

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