Scottish Widows Headquarters

An HQ for a major UK life assurance company in keeping with the unique urban fabric of Edinburgh.

The competition winning design concept evolved from a process of matching the brief with the opportunities presented by the site.

Occupying a large quarter of a city block BDP's strategy divided the plan into separate parts (for separate letting) and arranged these around an atrium raised a level above the street.

Energy efficient shallow-plan offices enclose private and public spaces including the large atrium, a public walkway through the scheme and a central circus which covers underground public parking for 200 cars.

Brief

  • accommodating a modern commercial building in the fabric of the historic city
  • a site designed to allow for future phases of development

Results

  • provides an efficient flexible working environment for 1500 staff with related corporate, training and support functions
  • a dynamic atriumwhich “ acts like an open piazza, as if the life of the street has moved indoors”
  • a 72 unit housing development on adjoining the site as phase 2

Facts

Location: Edinburgh
Client: Scottish Widows
Construction cost: £70m
Completed: 1997
Awards: 3

Integrated services

architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, lighting

Links to images