The Garment Factory, Glasgow

The Garment Factory is an award-winning, best-in-class office retrofit located in Glasgow's vibrant Merchant City. This groundbreaking project transformed a near-derelict former clothing factory, which had previously served as council and NHS offices, into a sustainable, flexible workplace tailored for modern business needs.

A Landmark Office Retrofit Focused on Sustainability

Through an extensive office retrofit and de-furbishment, the building was revitalized into contemporary office space spanning eight levels. The process preserved the industrial charm of the structure while integrating modern, sustainable design features.

Ross Ellis Stewart: Driving Design Excellence in Office Retrofit Projects

As the Project Architect with Morgan McDonnell Architecture, Ross Ellis Stewart led the design and delivery of this iconic office retrofit, ensuring the building met the demands of 21st-century businesses. Key contributions included:

• Optimizing floor layouts to enhance the building’s net-to-gross efficiency.

• Conducting thorough site investigations and historical analysis to showcase the building’s original character.

• Designing a commercially competitive retrofit with a strong brand identity that appeals to tenants.

Balancing Heritage with Modern Workplace Design

The Garment Factory exemplifies a successful office retrofit by retaining its historical essence while introducing cutting-edge facilities, such as:

• A welcoming reception lounge and café at street level.

• High-spec cycle storage, changing rooms, and showers to promote active commuting.

• A multi-purpose games room for employee wellbeing and engagement.

This forward-thinking retrofit project demonstrates the value of repurposing heritage buildings into sustainable office spaces, blending character with functionality.

The project has received multiple accolades:

• British Council for Offices Regional award for Best Recycled/Refurbished Workplace 2019

• RICS awards - Best Commercial Project 2018

• RIAS/Historic Environment Scotland Award - Conservation and Climate Change award

• The Herald Property Awards for Scotland - Commercial Project of the Year

• Scottish Design Awards - Re-use of a Listed Building - Commendation

• AJ Retrofit Awards 2018 - Listed Building over £5million - Finalist

• Scottish Property Awards 2019 - Architectural Excellence (Commercial Use) & Development of the Year (Commercial Buildings) - Finalist