Argyll Arcade sparkles with RICS Scotland commendation
Published by Anne Marie Hughes on Sat 09 Jun 12 @ 22:16
The Argyll Arcade in Glasgow, has been commended in this year's Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Scotland Awards.
The competition recognises the achievements of land, property and construction professionals in four categories - Design and Innovation, Building Conservation, Regeneration and Community Benefit.
Argyll Arcade was acknowledged in the Building Conservation category following a £750,000 two-year conservation project, managed by Chartered Building Surveyors from Jones Lang LaSalle, which has restored the mall to its full former glory.
The L-shaped shopping arcade is one of the world's oldest covered shopping malls which dates back to 1827, notable for its ornate cast iron hammer beam roof trusses supporting a magnificent glazed roof.
The ambitious building conservation project has rescued the mall's iconic architecture from decades of neglect revealing original light fittings, unique cast iron 'fish scale' panels, and stripping back 15 layers of paint to expose the original colour scheme.
Through the appointment of Jones Lang LaSalle as Managing Agents, a new Committee of Management was formed, and two successful maximum grant awards from Glasgow City Heritage Trust achieved a £200,000 boost towards conservation works.
Niall Robertson, associate director at Jones Lang LaSalle, said: "Argyll Arcade has a rich history and has become one of the city's most treasured buildings. In addition to restoring the mall to its full glory, the conservation repairs have also been a catalyst for new investment into many of the shops within the Arcade.
"This recognition from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is much deserved, and with the commitment of building owners this polished architectural gem will continue to shine for many years to come."
