PLANS have been submitted to City of Edinburgh Council for the proposed refurbishment of the Calton Square office building.
The application has been made by Ardstone Capital on behalf of the building owners. The building is currently home to Baillie Gifford.
The vision for Calton Square is to create a ‘best-in-class’ office building, with leading Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) standards and lowest carbon footprint.
Located at the top of Leith Walk, the scheme provides almost 200,000 sq ft of office accommodation, with a number of roof terraces, co-working areas, and internal atrium that has the potential to act as an auditorium.
The building, which dates from the 1990s, needs updating and to refurbish it will require ‘significant’ remodelling and intervention. This includes replacing many elements of the existing asset including windows, façade, lifts, and entrances.
However, much of the existing structure will be retained, with materials re-used on site or recycled.
Sustainability and net zero objectives have been established as a key consideration. The current green roofscape and gardens will be ‘enhanced’, with a courtyard or atrium space provided in the centre of the building.
Craig McDonald, principal and MD of Ardstone Capital UK, acting as development manager on behalf of the owner and its advisory team, said, “We are delighted to be submitting the planning application for Calton Square to City of Edinburgh Council. The dialogue with the Council and other stakeholders has been very productive, and the application seeks to deliver an office building comparable to the best in Europe, which will serve Edinburgh well into the future.
“With the highest environmental performance standards, and the lowest possible carbon footprint, this refurbished building will seek to deliver improved ground floor activity and accessibility. Calton Square will address the recognised demand for top quality office space in the capital, while making an important contribution to the city, and we look to continue engaging with the council and local community as the application progresses through the planning process.”
