RMJM makes shortlist for skyscraper in China

THE architecture practice behind the design for the Scottish Parliament has been shortlisted to work on a giant skyscraper in the Chinese city of Shenyang.

Edinburgh-based RMJM, which teamed up with Spanish designer Enric Miralles for the Holyrood project, has identified China and other Asia markets as major potential areas of growth for the company.

Three other firms – Aedas, Pelli Clarke Pelli and SCUT – are also in the running for the Shenyang project. The tower would be 518 metres tall and 92 storeys high and would be connected by a shared podium to a second, shorter tower of 66 storeys.

The building will be the highest in the city and will be more than one-and-a-half times the size of London’s Shard, which is the tallest building in the European Union.

RMJM – which briefly hired former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Fred Goodwin – has suffered financial problems in 
recent years and fell into receivership last year.

Chief executive Peter Morrison told The Scotsman last week that a buy-out by Duthus Investments was a long-planned move to write off £12 million of debt and clear the business of its old-guard investors. Morrison said further investment by his family – who two years ago ploughed £8m of their own money into the struggling business – could not be ruled out.