ENGINEERING and project management services company AtkinsRéalis has delivered a major refurbishment of the historic James Watt South Lecture Theatre for the University of Glasgow.
The work is designed to enhance accessibility, inclusivity and the student experience.
The James Watt South Lecture Theatre, constructed in the 1950s, is a 200‑seat traditional Stevenson lecture hall known for its Art Deco domed ceiling. Following water ingress and the need for extensive strip‑out works, the university commissioned a full refurbishment.
As lead advisor on the project, AtkinsRéalis provided a suite of multidisciplinary services, including project management, cost management, principal design and structural engineering. The Glasgow-based team was able to bring knowledge of the university’s design standards, governance and quality requirements thanks to experience working across the University of Glasgow Estates.
A key outcome was improved accessibility, with several physical and functional upgrades including levelled flooring at the top tier to create wheelchair‑accessible spaces, accessible doors with push‑button entry, and wheelchair‑height desks with adjustable seating.
The original domed ceiling presented ‘complex’ challenges but these were solved with an acoustic ceiling spray to meet acoustic specifications while minimising visual obstructions and protecting its structural integrity.
Bespoke timber acoustic wall panelling is also said to have provided ‘excellent’ acoustic absorption through a micro-perforated technology with both acoustic solutions providing a ‘first-of-its-kind’ implementation on the University of Glasgow campus, while at the same time supporting sustainability objectives with the high rate of recycled materials and low emissions manufacturing.
By adopting a strip-back-to-shell approach, AtkinsRéalis revealed that the team created opportunities for innovative solutions to fundamental issues within the B-listed building, while at the same time respecting its heritage constraints and functionality requirements.
The project was also notable for the collaborative, multi‑disciplinary team of women who led its delivery and with International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) being celebrated on Tuesday June 23, lead project manager Hope Shaw says it highlights the positive influence of diverse leadership and has the potential to inspire young women thinking of a career in the industry.
“The refurbishment has significantly improved learning, teaching, and wellbeing for students, staff, and the wider university community, which were the key objectives for the project,” Hope Shaw said. “But it also provided an opportunity to implement our values of collaborative problem solving and dedication to excellence.
“For me, the greatest success was delivering the project as part of a women‑led consultant and design team, demonstrating the value of inclusive practice in action. Representation like this is still rare in the built‑environment sector, and it was inspiring to see the impact diverse leadership can have on both project delivery and team culture.”
David Hall, director of projects, University of Glasgow, added, “For all our Estates projects, teams are built by selecting the best-suited experts both internally and through our supply chain. This outstanding project was largely delivered by our female experts, which is a really positive reflection of our strong EDI policies and the inclusive culture we’re building to support and nurture talent across our teams.”
