Glasgow's biggest office building goes all electric ahead of next year's COP26

What is set to become Glasgow’s largest single office building is going all-electric to minimise its environmental impact.

The 177 Bothwell Street development in Glasgow city centre is set to complete in autumn 2021. A large section has been pre-let to Virgin Money for its new headquarters, while HFD Group’s serviced offices business will occupy 65,000 square feet in the building.

The 177 Bothwell Street development is set to complete in autumn 2021. A large section has been pre-let to Virgin Money for its new headquarters, while HFD Group’s serviced offices business will occupy 65,000 square feet in the building.

Announced to coincide with the week that the UN’s COP26 climate change conference should have been taking place in Glasgow, the building will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, with its electrification representing a 14 per cent reduction in annual energy use.

The move to fully electric has significantly reduced the estimated consumption, from 18.1 to 15.6 kWh per square metre, per year.

Facilities for “climate-friendly commuting” have also been included in the building, with provisionss for cyclists and 48 car parking spaces, with the electrical capacity for all of them to become electric vehicle charging points.

The building’s facade and glazing is designed to maximise natural daylight while maintaining a high thermal performance.

Stephen Lewis, managing director of HFD Property Group, said: “We are setting very high standards for the environmental performance and sustainability of 177 Bothwell Street.

“The starting point was reducing energy demand, making the building as lean as possible in energy consumption terms, so that there are no carbon emissions that need to be offset through other means.

“Electrification is an emerging trend in property around the world, but we have taken it one step further at 177, with all power coming from renewable sources.

“This time next year, Glasgow will host the momentous COP26 summit, bringing significant focus onto how Scotland can play its role in the fight against climate change. Construction and the built environment accounts for almost 40 per cent of annual carbon emissions and HFD is committed to improving sustainability, with all divisions of the company working towards ambitious net-zero goals.

“Climate change is the single biggest challenge of our time, and it is incumbent on us all to make positive changes.”

An independent economic impact assessment concluded that the 313,000-square-foot development will generate £2.8 billion of gross value added (GVA) to the Scottish economy over 25 years.

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