Through adaptive re-use and internal reorganisation, Glasgow's revitalised Kinning Park Complex now offers community and creative workspaces across its three storeys.

Originally built as an extension to the former Lambhill Street School in 1910, the Kinning Park Complex is a multi-use community space offering activities focused on community, citizenship, creativity and wellbeing for its users, who include many with accessibility and mobility needs and health concerns. It includes a number of halls, kitchen, office space and studios which are home to and well used by local organisations, dance and sports groups, artists, musicians and community projects. 

The project was funded through a grant of £1.2 million from the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland and the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

Working alongside New Practice, we provided M&E design services for the refurbishment of this independent venue in the southside of Glasgow. 

The design aimed to make the most of the building’s heritage and existing structure while creating functional, flexible and accessible workspaces across all its three storeys, hosting events and resources that include a drop-in café, conferences, sports classes, cultural events and learning opportunities. Reworking the building has opened up the original double-helix stairs to aid visibility, safety, security and access to the building, while also allowing natural light to filter from the existing rooflight.

A new passenger lift allows level access from the ground floor to all areas of the building, while a new ramp to the secondary entrance ensures full accessibility for everybody. A multi-purpose 'quiet space' for a range of uses, including prayer, breastfeeding, a calm refuge for neurodiverse users and breakout/thinking room has also been created.

The project worked within the constraints of the existing building; however, the orientation and glazing arrangement of the building provides all of the key spaces with excellent daylight and has allowed the building to be naturally ventilated throughout.

Given the nature of the project, benchmark figures were used to estimate the operational energy of the building, which we anticipate will be around 200-300 kWh/m²/yr.

We are pleased to see the amazing outcome: An innovative, community-centred reinvention of a space that preserves and showcases the qualities and history of a unique building through adaptive re-use.

“Kinning Park Complex has always been a great resource, even when it was cold, wet and broken. Now, with the redevelopment complete, our communities can be part of building a future that is here for generations to come.” - Racheal Smith, lead of operations, Kinning Park Complex