Glasgow office named top corporate workplace in Scotland

Glasgow’s 122 Waterloo Street, home to international banking giant Morgan Stanley, has been named Scotland’s top corporate workplace in the British Council for Offices’ (BCO) 2020 awards.

The highly sustainable, grade A office building, developed by HFD Property Group, opened in 2018 and has capacity for more than 1,400 employees.

The BCO judges commended HFD, Morgan Stanley, and their designers for creating a flexible workplace that meets the requirements of the business, together with impressive support facilities for staff including a gym and restaurant. They noted an increase in staff satisfaction and pride in the workplace, testament to the versatility and variety of spaces and amenities provided, making this a sought–after destination for the millennial worker.

A range of state-of-the-art facilities were incorporated into the building’s design, with a particular focus on employee wellbeing. Amenities include a gym, restaurant, meditation room and on-site health care centre, as well as ergonomic breakout areas, collaboration spaces and conference rooms to complement its bright open-plan offices. The building has an A-rated EPC and a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, making it one of the most energy efficient offices in Glasgow.

The building is the first phase of HFD’s ambitious Bothwell Exchange development which also includes 177 Bothwell Street, set to become Glasgow’s largest office.

Michael McDowall, director of HFD Property Group, said: “122 Waterloo Street is situated in the heart of Glasgow’s business district and is among the most sustainable office spaces in Scotland. Employee wellbeing and sustainability are two of the most important factors for office occupiers, and we’re continuing to champion these elements in every HFD project. Contrary to some popular beliefs about the impact of Covid-19 on office-working, we believe the office has an increasingly important role to play in the future of work. Top-quality office space will only become more important for attracting and retaining the best talent.”