ROBERTSON Construction Tayside has commenced the build of the £26 million James Thomson House at Dundee Waterfront.
The Dundee City Council project will provide 51,600 square feet of grade A office accommodation with a EPC A and BREEAM excellent environmental accreditation ratings when completed in 2025.
Two commercial units will be situated on the ground level of the six-floor building, with public art by local artists set to feature throughout, as well as facilities to support active travel.
A programme of community wealth building activities is planned for the construction phase, which the council said will include employability support for unemployed people, education visits, and maximising opportunities for local suppliers and sub-contractors.
Named after the late local architect, James Thomson, Dundee City Council explained how he had outlined a vision for the waterfront in the early 20th century that was never realised.
However, around a century later, the current 30-year Dundee Waterfront masterplan has transformed the area with major projects already delivered including V&A Dundee, the new railway station, Waterfront Place, and Slessor Gardens.
Kevin Dickson, MD of Robertson Construction Tayside, said, “The new office development on site six will address the growing demand for modern office workspaces in Dundee. Helping to retain and create jobs, this development is designed to the highest standards of ESG and has a focus on the wellbeing of its occupiers.
“Creating grade A working environments like this have the potential to drive inward investment and innovation within Dundee. It is our pleasure to continue supporting Dundee City Council’s vision of regenerating and transforming the waterfront.”
Scottish Government minister for local government empowerment and planning, Joe FitzPatrick MSP, and Dundee City Council leader, John Alexander, attended a ceremony to mark the start of works on the project.
Joe FitzPatrick said, “This new office space development is the latest piece of the infrastructure programme that has transformed Dundee’s waterfront into an exciting destination for businesses and visitors, helping secure investment in new industries, and to attract and retain talented people from around the world.”
Councillor Alexander added, “The success of Agnes Husband House has proved that there is a demand in Dundee for modern office space of this high quality. It is vital in our efforts to attract and sustain jobs in the city. We have benefited from significant investment from Scottish Government, and this new office development is supported by the final phase of Scottish Government Growth Accelerator funding.”
