Stevenson Hive Building Project
The University of Glasgow Gilmorehill Campus
Preparations are already underway for the exciting £13.4 million extension of the Stevenson sports facility and redevelopment of the Glasgow University Union (GUU), located at the junction of Kelvin Way and Gibson Street. This will create a brand new sports and social venue currently referred
to as the Stevenson Hive Building which will incorporate the re-birth of the Hive nightclub.
The Stevenson Hive Building
The Stevenson Hive Building will enhance the reputation of the University of Glasgow. It will increase the capacity and make more efficient use of the site space
available, in response to the increasing number of students wishing to study at the university.
The Stevenson Hive Building will connect with the original GUU and the Stevenson Building. It will be a modern, purpose-built and sustainable new facility, creating a new Hive nightclub and a state-of-the-art sports and leisure hub. The building will be an inspiring design that will inject a new sense of energy and enthusiasm around the campus.
Location benefits
The Stevenson Hive Building will be located on the existing site of the GUU extension and is set to become an eye-catching landmark on the campus. The
main access to the sports and leisure facility will be from Oakfield Avenue,
while access to the new Hive will be from Gibson Street and via the original
GUU building. The building is conveniently located for public transport, with
bus services and Underground stations a short walk away.
Benefits for the community
Our plans include an element of community access, so that local residents
may enjoy the benefits of our new and improved facilities. The Stevenson Hive
Building will be a positive addition to the architecture of the local area, being
rebuilt to sympathetically blend-in with the neighbouring Grade B listed GUU
building, in stark contrast to the current building.
University of Glasgow
Masterplan
The University are currently working with Page\Park architects on the
preparation of a masterplan for the Gilmorehill Campus. Through this work
the campus has been divided into 6 distinctive character areas.
The new Stevenson Hive building is located in the area referred to as the
Eastern Approach which is made up of a number of attractively scaled
buildings set in an urban block structure on the edge of Hillhead.
Site & Current Hive
Project History
The driver for the project is the impending expiration of the University’s long term lease on the Kelvin Hall
Sports Centre, which the University uses for a number of sporting activities. A number of options were explored to replace the facilities used in this lease and by far the best option was to extend the current Stevenson Building.
Refurbishment works to the GUU will be included as part of the project with a new Hive facility being developed and internal reconfiguration of the existing building to maintain the current level of facilities.
GUU Building
Contextual Analysis
The site is in a key strategic location situated at the eastern edge
of the University’s Gilmorehill Campus and forms an urban block
in conjunction with the Rankine building to the south. As such,
the site forms an important “gateway” to the University for those
approaching from the city centre.
The topography of the surrounding area serves to enhance the
impact of the Stevenson building with Gibson Street steadily
rising along the nearby shops towards the proposed site of the
extension providing it with an elevated platform. With the narrowing of Gibson Street at this point, in conjunction with the elevated position the new Stevenson extension will effectively terminate the vista up Gibson Street towards the University. This
enhances its potential to act as a ‘gateway’ building for the University.
Planning Context and Conservation Area Location
The site is located within the West Conservation Area, which encompasses much of the University campus. The direct context of the site also contains a number of listed buildings which
have greatly influenced the proposals, indeed the GUU itself is a grade B listed building therefore proposals for the Stevenson Hive building, and alterations to the GUU itself take cognisance of and are sensitive to this situation. The drawing opposite summarises the listing of the
adjacent buildings.
Stevenson Building
LEGEND
Existing Building Line
Proposed Building Line
Lines of Reference from Context
Grade A Listed Building
Gibson Street
Grade B Listed Building
Grade C Listed Building
Conservation Area
In addition to the above a number of documents and studies have influenced the proposals: 1.
2.
3.
3.
4.
Glasgow City Council Conservation Area Appraisal;
City Plan 2;
University of Glasgow Estates Conservation Strategy;
Greenspace Scotland Gibson Street Placemaking Report;
BREEAM 2011 Accreditation Guidance
The University Estates Conservation Strategy can be downloaded at: www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_222887_en.pdf
In plan the established building lines of the block layout create the basic footprint of the building. The existing Hive building actually sits back from the established building line on Kelvin
Way. As the building turns onto Gibson Street the building follows the boundary line. As this
is an established line in the street pattern it is proposed that the extension follows this line
which helps to enclose the top part of Gibson Street and prioritise Kelvin Way in terms of vehicular traffic.
Rankin Building
Site Plan
Concept
The new Stevenson extension building combines facilities for the
GUU and Stevenson with limited adaptation of the existing GUU
building. The extension will comprise of a 5 storey building with
the new Hive on the ground floor accommodation and 4 stories
of sports facilities above.
The Stevenson extension will be fully DDA accessible with a disabled access lift running to all floors and direct wheelchair access
to 3 of the floors of the existing building including both levels
with existing changing facilities.
Sir Charles Wilson Building
The new Hive will have direct access into the existing GUU building and will retain it’s independent entrance/exit on Gibson
Street.
Key Project Objectives: 1. Sustainability - BREEAM excellent rating sought;
2. Improved provision of sports on campus;
3. Utilisation of existing buildings and land;
4. Improve street activity on important gateway site;
5. Refurbish GUU.
Gilmorehill Halls
Contact:
Web:
estates-GUUstevenson@glasgow.ac.uk
www.gla.ac.uk/services/estates/projectdirectory
Stevenson Hive Building Project
The University of Glasgow Gilmorehill Campus
Stevenson Proposals
Existing Stevenson entrance
Extending to 4,191m2 (45,111 ft2) over five floors, the building will increase
the activity space available for university sports and leisure facilities.
Level 6 - Roof
The roof will house the air handling units which will serve all floors of the
extension.
Ductwork will pass across the roof to the ‘chimney’s’ formed on the Gibson
Street elevation. Access to the new roof will be via the existing Stevenson
building.
Level 5 - Viewing Gallery
Balcony-style viewing gallery for circa 100 people overlooking the sports
hall on raked floor to assist viewing angles.
Direct level access to Stevenson level 6 adjacent to squash court 2 and
access to all other floors of the extension via staircase and DDA compliant
lift.
Level 4 - Sports Hall
Full size multi-purpose sports hall with competition level sports flooring for
use in basketball, badminton, 5-a-side football, volleyball, netball and aerobics.
Large storage area available to the front of the building and waiting area for
circa 100 people beneth the viewing gallery.
Direct level access to existing sports hall and changing facilities.
Level 3 - Cardiovascular Suite
750sqm open plan cardiovascular suite with full range of new equipment
with full wireless connections.
Direct access to existing building level 4 changing facilities which include
disabled changing.
Disabled access is achieved via a platform lift as level access is unachievable
due to the requirement to maintain vehicular delivery access into the rear
courtyard.
Level 2 - Muscle Conditioning Suite
750sqm open plan muscle conditioning suite with large free weights area
and a selection of weights machines.
No access to existing Stevenson building due to the requirement to maintain vehicular delivery access into the rear courtyard, however there will be
level access to Oakfield Lane to the rear of the building.
Levels 2 & 3 will have large windows to Kelvin Way to help activate this area
at night. Windows facing Gibson Street will be treated to prevent any potential light pollution issues and deal with overlooking issues of the neighbouring tenements.
Existing view to site from Gibson Street
Level 1 - Hive
Space for replacement Hive facility for GUU which will provide direct connections into the existing GUU.
The entry and exit point will remain on Gibson Street due to the narrow
footpath on Kelvin Way, however it has been relocated to the corner of
Gibson Street and Kelvin Way to increase separation to the adjacent tenements.
New cafe facility to be incorporated facing Kelvin way, this will be open to
the general public and will help to activate the street frontage in this area.
Proposed view to site from Gibson Street
Kelvin Way elevation
Long Section
The western facades of Kelvin Way form a stone
plinth with a consistent parapet height across
the street elevation. The new building responds
to this by creating an ‘urban edge’ with large
openings to activate the street at this important
junction by allowing unobstructed views into the
fitness suites. The existing building lines are
picked up and displayed vertical detailing of the
facade.
Gibson Street is one of vertical elements, from
the chimneys in the tenements as you approach
Otago street, to the clocktower at the new primary school and the strong vertical broken forms
of the Sir Charles Wilson building. By creating
vertical ‘chimneys’, maintaining the vertical
rythym already set by the context and creating
an important vertical feature prominence is
given to this critical junction in the urban context.
Gibson Street elevation
Contact:
Web:
estates-GUUstevenson@glasgow.ac.uk
www.gla.ac.uk/services/estates/projectdirectory
Stevenson Hive Building Project
The University of Glasgow Gilmorehill Campus
GUU Proposals
Timeline
September 2014 Facility Opens
LEGEND
The Hive
Cafe/Bar
Toilets
Storage
Karaoke Bar
Hive
August 2014 Construction Complete
Deep 6
Cafe/Bar
Ground Floor Plan - GUU
Hive Redevelopment
The redevelopment of the Hive is creating excitement around the campus
and will allow the GUU to launch a fresh new purpose-built nightclub,
which will be an improvement to the lively social scene of thecampus. The
new Hive will also house two new bars and a new café facing University
Avenue.
September 2013 Construction Commences
The Hive has been enjoyed by Glasgow students for more than 40 years, but
the existing facilities are tired and dated.
The new Hive will be completely redesigned for the 21st century, and will
provide wifi access. We will create a busy must-visit venue to meet the
social expectations of today’s students.
To support the new bar functions, the toilets will be replaced in the lower
ground floor of the GUU.
Section through new Karaoke Bar
August 2013 Contractor Site Set-up
The new Hive will connect to the lower ground floor of the GUU and create
a large floor plate of entertainment facility.
The new Hive will offer an exciting social environment for students and
their friends. It is sure to become a popular addition to the vibrant Glasgow
social scene.
June 2013 Hive Demolition Complete
March 2013 Hive Demolition Commences
Landscaping Proposals
The aim of the landscape proposals is to satisfy the
following site requirements:
• respond to the new building elevation with planting
proposal.
• respond positively to the prevailing steep gradient
and north facing aspect of Gibson Street.
• respond to local community aspirations for safe, attractive opportunities for sitting.
• respond to new building entrance at corner of Kelvin
Way/Gibson Street for safe access/egress.
• respond to site location within Conservation Area
through careful consideration of hard and soft materials.
The choice of soft planting finishes is dictated by the
relatively narrow strip of ground between the building line and the rear of the adoptable footpath. The elevational treatment of the building is used as a framework for the proposed fastigiate hornbeam tree planting. The trees are anchored in clipped yew hedging
boxes which provide the backdrop for ornamental
shrub planting/ grasses to ensure all round seasonal
interest. The scale of the planting also reflects the use
for which the spaces are intended and surrounding
views from street level.
The choice of hard landscape finishes responds to the
local character of the Hillhead/Kelvin Way area
through the use of natural ashlar stone copes and low
retaining walling to planting areas. Tegula concrete
cobbles are proposed as a finish to the sitting areas.
Metal bench seating fixed to the stone ground copes
provides a comfortable finish. litter bins are provided
as required.
Contact:
Web:
estates-GUUstevenson@glasgow.ac.uk
www.gla.ac.uk/services/estates/projectdirectory
January 2013 Hive Vacated & Enabling Works Begin
February 2013 Building warrant Submission
December 2012 Planning Submission