[belle]

I gather that one of the schools within the University of Edinburgh is showing an interest in buying the former surgical block (the main building on Lauriston Place).

 

[dadabouttown]

I gather that one of the schools within the University of Edinburgh is showing an interest in buying the former surgical block (the main building on Lauriston Place).

I must admit that I have always wondered about the lack of any University interest in Quartermile. They have been powering ahead as an institution in the last decade - moving up the league tables and pulling ahead of most former peers (by student numbers) in the Russell Group Uni's on research income. There is some scope for central campus development as Potterow develops but not much apart from that. It would be a bold and expensive step but I can see the logic.

 

[Kenspeckle]

Confirmation of belle's rumour from a few months ago. Great news. Sounds as though there will still be a residential component (new build to the rear?) as well as retail along Middle Meadow Walk. I believe the project architects will be Bennetts Associates which makes it even better.

University of Edinburgh to acquire Quartermile's category A-listed surgical hospital building

Quartermile - 11th November, 2015

Edinburgh city centre’s landmark mixed-use development Quartermile, an investment that is managed by Moorfield Group, has agreed to sell its Category A-listed Surgical Hospital building, located on Lauriston Place, to the neighbouring University of Edinburgh.

The striking building, originally designed by architect David Bryce, will be carefully renovated and transformed by the University into a new interdisciplinary hub that will unite business and public policy to address societal and environmental challenges.

The University’s acquisition of the building will also provide the opportunity for Quartermile Developments to build a further phase of new build residential development at Quartermile along with proposed new retail and public space on Middle Meadow Walk.

Quartermile Developments Managing Director, Paul Curran, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for Quartermile and the City of Edinburgh. The Surgical Hospital is a fundamental part of our development masterplan of 29 buildings. It is a magnificent building which has always been used for teaching, so it is apt that its primary use will be for learning.

“The new University development will integrate Quartermile with one of the world’s most highly regarded academic institutions, making our location a place where business, academia, retail and lifestyle converge.”

Commenting on the acquisition, University of Edinburgh Principal, Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, said: “We are very excited about the acquisition of the old Surgical Hospital and its potential. It will enable us to expand our outstanding teaching facilities and help us consolidate our position as a world-class university that is accessible to the wider community.”

Moorfield Real Estate Fund III made its initial investment into Quartermile in September 2013 as part of a drive to invest in well-located, city centre, mixed-use development projects.

Moorfield Group Chief Investment Officer, Charles Ferguson Davie, added: “This transaction further cements Quartermile’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading mixed-use developments that now comprises a full range of different occupiers, offering a fantastic environment in which to live, work, enjoy and now study. It has been a year of stellar success for Quartermile and we look forward to maintaining that momentum during 2016.”

Once concluded, Quartermile will provide Edinburgh with 1,050 apartments of which over 650 are already occupied and another 150 currently being built. It will also comprise 370,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, 65,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space and seven acres of open landscaping. The development is expected to be completed in 2018.

 

[Dee-lightful]

Confirmation of belle's rumour from a few months ago. Great news. Sounds as though there will still be a residential component (new build to the rear?) as well as retail along Middle Meadow Walk. I believe the project architects will be Bennetts Associates which makes it even better.

University of Edinburgh to acquire Quartermile's category A-listed surgical hospital building

Quartermile - 11th November, 2015

Great news Ken! My only reservation is the concern that they'll take an age to actually develop it given the other capital projects they are investing in. Any thoughts in regard to this?

 

[dadabouttown]

Really pleased about this. I had a little bit of time to kill last week in London and wandered around the Kings Cross masterplan area. The University of the Arts / Central St Martins have located there in Granary square and it def felt like it adds something extra, something different to more commercial uses - offices and residential and retail.

The uni's recent track record in developing historic buildings is good and it provides a great shop window building to attract more talented academics and postgrads and such.

In the longer term, the westward extension might stimulate a re-look at the under-used quads and permeability of the old Medical school building and Charles St lane etc. That whole cluster of buildings is a bit of an impermeable jumble - but has potential if they find ways to open it up a bit.

No idea about how well placed to get cracking sooner they are - but they do seem to be going from strength to strength.

 

[Kenspeckle]

Great news Ken! My only reservation is the concern that they'll take an age to actually develop it given the other capital projects they are investing in. Any thoughts in regard to this?

Your guess is as good as mine. The press release restates the old 2018 completion date for Quartermile. If this is still considered part of the wider site, that suggests work would have to start relatively soon, though that's not exactly clear. At the very least, the retail development along MMW would necessitate conversion of the ground floor of the surgical hospital at the eastern end. As you say, the University are very gung-ho development-wise at the moment. I've lost count of how many projects they're currently juggling, so what's one more major capital project, more or less?!

Maybe belle has some insight on timescale?

 

[Jalbo]

Confirmation of belle's rumour from a few months ago. Great news. Sounds as though there will still be a residential component (new build to the rear?) as well as retail along Middle Meadow Walk. I believe the project architects will be Bennetts Associates which makes it even better.

University of Edinburgh to acquire Quartermile's category A-listed surgical hospital building

Quartermile - 11th November, 2015

All in all, Quartermile has turned out really well. Very pleasantly surprised by this news.

 

[belle]

Maybe belle has some insight on timescale?

Afraid not. But like that it's introducing another use to the site. I still find the internal planning of the site to feel rather dead even with increased occupancy. Hopefully this will help bring more life.

 

[Kenspeckle]

Tender notice for enabling works for the University of Edinburgh's redevelopment of the A-listed Surgical Hospital. The £5m contract to strip out the building and prepare the site in advance of the main refurbishment and new build project will commence in January 2017 and last approximately 10 months.

 

[Kenspeckle]

Update from UoE's Estates Department on the former Surgical Hospital:

W/C 9th May 2016: Commencement of an early minor strip out enabling package comprising removal of modern inlay ceilings, limited areas of wall linings and loose furniture items/debris at the UoE Quartermile building. This is to facilitate an accurate measured building survey to provide floor plan drawings of all levels and 3D Mass and Building Information Models. This early strip will also provide information regarding the structure and stonework condition which is important for the early design and cost work.

Dalton Demolitions has been appointed to undertake these works and is due to be on site from 9th May until late June.

 

[Kenspeckle]

PAN submitted for the University of Edinburgh's redevelopment of the former Surgical Hospital by Bennetts Associates. From the description below, there'll be significant new-build (a third again of the existing floor space).

16/04490/PAN | This notice is for the proposed change of use and conversion of the category A listed surgical building of the former Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and tha category B listed gatehouse, boundary and forecourt, to provide an educational facility for Edinburgh University. The proposals include repair, refurbishment and alterations to the original fabric, some areas of removal, addition of new build elements, alterations to hard and soft landscape and addition of new public space. The gross floor area of the proposed development is circa 20,000sqm which includes 5,000sqm of new build accommodation. | Former Royal Infirmary Site 1 Lauriston Place Edinburgh EH3 9EF

Public Exhibition & Consultation

Monday 24th October
3.00pm to 7.00pm
Atrium (Room G.01), School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Informatics Forum, 10 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9AB

 

[dadabouttown]

PAN submitted for the University of Edinburgh's redevelopment of the former Surgical Hospital by Bennetts Associates. From the description below, there'll be significant new-build (a third again of the existing floor space).

I'm intrigued as to where the new build of that scale will fit. I wonder if they are looking at a scheme that partially infills/links the 2 spaces between the outer wings facing Lauriston Place.

 

[Kenspeckle]

I'm intrigued as to where the new build of that scale will fit. I wonder if they are looking at a scheme that partially infills/links the 2 spaces between the outer wings facing Lauriston Place.

I'm very curious to see the proposals too. I'm not sure why, but I didn't anticipate much/any new-build for this. I think you're right about the probable design solution (maybe glazing-in those spaces entirely?). I suppose another alternative might be a freestanding building in the forecourt between the gatehouse and the main entrance but that seems much less likely. From the site outline on the image upthread, it's hard to see too many other options and 5,000 sq m is a not insignificant amount of space to create.

 

[Kenspeckle]

I went along to the public exhibition for the Surgical Hospital redevelopment for UoE earlier.

• The gatehouse is to be demolished and the forecourt filled with a gently sloping ramp up to the main entrance which will create a new public square. By virtue of the level change, beneath this square will be a flexible "event space" capable of seating 500.

• The central clocktower block and the five ward blocks are to be linked by a new spine, which as dadabouttown predicted, partially fills in some of the space between the ward blocks, though to a lesser extent than I expected.

• The ward block interiors will be returned to their original open-plan design.

• As well as the main entrance on Lauriston Place, a new entrance will be created off Middle Meadow Walk.

• The North and South ward blocks on the eastern side (adjacent to Middle Meadow Walk), will have retail/commercial units on the ground floor. The South block will also have a single storey "retail extension" facing MMW.

• The University is still deciding exactly what function the development will serve. According to the architects, UoE are now moving away from the business hub idea but towards what wasn't clear, though it might involve "partners" taking space within the building.

I requested digital copies of the exhibition boards, which I'll post if I get them but in the meantime some photos of a few panels.

 

[belle]

can't say I was wowed by the elevations of the new bits, north or south.

 

[dadabouttown]

can't say I was wowed by the elevations of the new bits, north or south.

Not sure if the absence of a frontal view of the 2 wing in-fills means the designs are indicative. I agree that from the cross-section view, it looks quite functional.

I do through quite like the idea of removing the gatehouse and opening it up far more to create that square.

 

[Jalbo]

Not sure if the absence of a frontal view of the 2 wing in-fills means the designs are indicative. I agree that from the cross-section view, it looks quite functional.

I do through quite like the idea of removing the gatehouse and opening it up far more to create that square.

Agreed. Hopefully the square, and the resulting 'promotion' of the clock tower, look as good in execution as in the render. (My mind tells me the tower is a bit more squat in real life - perhaps not, and it just needs the right environment to bring out its best bits).

 

[belle]

There were elevations at the exhibition, hopefully Kenspeckle will get hold of the digital versions and post them. The south one was a bit of budget curtain wall.

 

[Kenspeckle]

Yeah, it was pretty busy when I was there and there was a bit too much traffic to get a shot of all the boards. I share belle's underwhelming reaction to the new-build sections. I didn't think they looked cheap necessarily more that they were just a bit off somehow, maybe not enough of a contrast to the existing building? If you look at the image of the new Middle Meadow Walk entrance upthread you'll get an idea of the style. Just imagine that replicated across larger facades - this unbuilt scheme by Bennetts isn't a million miles away.

 

[belle]

It's a robust building that merits a ballsy response.

re the spine on the south side: I asked about that and apparently these will be cellular study spaces/offices.