Dundee Civic Offices, East Scotland

Dundee HQ Approval Dundee City Council HQ proposal approved NEW CIVIC OFFICES (Dundee House) for Dundee City Council Reiach and Hall Architects, after winning the competition to design the City of Dundee Council’s new £27M North Lindsay Street offices, have now submitted this iconic and signature city-centre project for planning approval. Reiach and Hall’s winning scheme offers a new marker in the city, fronted by an impressive civic logia, and allows daylight and fresh air to penetrate deep into the plan creating light and airy workspaces. image © Reiach and Hall Architects The new offices, located on the site of the former DC Thompson print works, retain, re-use and add to the existing building. The original double height printing press hall is opened up at ground floor to form a dramatic arcaded loggia connecting the ‘’one-stop-shop’’ reception and information area with the new extension of the Overgate Centre Mall. The plan allows easy connections between all departments. A proposed decked car park adjacent, imagines a new square for the city, setting off the new building’s role as a civic institution and destination. An A+DS (Architecture + Design Scotland*) design meeting held in Dundee reviewed the project before the planning application was submitted. AD+S were “encouraged by Dundee City Council’s ambition for this exciting project” and supported “the designs and the way the new and old elements have been skilfully integrated.” AD+S welcomed “the project team’s approach to sustainability and encourage them in their aspiration to achieve an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating for the building.” Supporting the reuse of the existing building as a key part of the design approach and the connections made between the council offices, the proposed civic square and the Overgate Centre, AD+S felt the design responded “to help tie the building into the wider urban context.” (AD+S review dated 21 May 2007) image © Reiach and Hall Architects Dundee Council Offices - Project info: Architects: Reiach and Hall Architects Contract value: £27m Client Name: Dundee City Council Dundee Council HQ: Info from Reiach and Hall Architects 2007 Dundee City Council: Improving customer contact This new design for Dundee House will help build on the foundations of 'Changing for the Future' for improved customer contact. Dundee House will be the city council's new offices in North Lindsay Street and will be geared towards providing first-class contact with the public. A new flagship customer centre will be spread over the whole ground floor of the offices, with dedicated staff and facilities to help everyone. People will be able to make a wide range of inquiries about every aspect of the council's responsibilities. This will cover everything from schools to roads, and from council tax to social work assessments. The aim is to open the offices in about three years' time to replace Tayside House, which is to be demolished as part of the Central Waterfront development. Dundee House will show the whole city how the council is constantly looking at ways to make it easier for the people of the city to get in touch and to get help. Winning Design Dundee Council HQ Reiach and Hall Architects Planning submission for new Dundee City Council £30m headquarters – Dundee House. Construction scheduled to start Spring 2008. To replace 16-storey Tayside House. Location: North Lindsay Street Approx. budget: £30m Approx. occupancy: 925 staff Competition submission by gm+ad architects: