St. Andrews House (Glasgow)
Encyclopedia
St Andrew House is a mixed use, mid-rise skyscraper
in the centre of Glasgow
, Scotland
. It has been a prominent landmark on western end of the city's Sauchiehall Street
since the mid 1960s when it was completed, and was one of the first post-war high rise buildings in the city centre. It stands on the former site of the Lyric Theatre
(destroyed by fire in 1953) on the corner of West Nile Street and Sauchiehall Street. The building consists of a 15-storey office tower, which sits atop a 2-storey podium incorporating a row of shops and retail units. Since 2001, it has been flanked by the 11-storey Cineworld
cinema built on an adjacent site on Renfrew Street.
For much of its existence the building has been used as offices, but since the development of newer 'Grade A' office space in the city's new financial district
, its owners have struggled to find tenants.
In 2010 it was announced, amid speculation that the building would face demolition, that the hotel
chain Premier Inn had acquired the tower, and planned to convert it into a 210-bedroom hotel. As of April 2011, the building's outer concrete walls had been completely removed, revealing its internal skeleton, to be replaced by metal and glass curtain walls. The building is expected to reopen in August 2012.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
in the centre of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It has been a prominent landmark on western end of the city's Sauchiehall Street
Sauchiehall Street
Sauchiehall Street is one of the main shopping/business streets in the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Along with Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, it forms the main shopping area of Glasgow, containing the majority of Glasgow's high street and chain stores.Although commonly associated with the...
since the mid 1960s when it was completed, and was one of the first post-war high rise buildings in the city centre. It stands on the former site of the Lyric Theatre
Royalty Theatre, Glasgow
The Royalty Theatre, Glasgow was a theatre in Glasgow at the corner of Sauchiehall Street and Renfield Street. It was built in 1879 as part of a development by the Central Halls Company chaired by David Rattray , and was one of the first theatre designs of Frank Matcham...
(destroyed by fire in 1953) on the corner of West Nile Street and Sauchiehall Street. The building consists of a 15-storey office tower, which sits atop a 2-storey podium incorporating a row of shops and retail units. Since 2001, it has been flanked by the 11-storey Cineworld
Cineworld (Glasgow)
Cineworld Glasgow Renfrew Street is a cinema on Renfrew Street, Glasgow, located in the north east of the city centre, it is adjacent to the Buchanan Bus Station and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, as well as being close to Sauchiehall Street and Buchanan Galleries...
cinema built on an adjacent site on Renfrew Street.
For much of its existence the building has been used as offices, but since the development of newer 'Grade A' office space in the city's new financial district
International Financial Services District
The International Financial Services District is a ten year project within the city of Glasgow in Scotland to create a highly attractive inward investment location for leading international financial services companies and a re-location option for existing Glasgow-based companies, seeking to...
, its owners have struggled to find tenants.
In 2010 it was announced, amid speculation that the building would face demolition, that the hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
chain Premier Inn had acquired the tower, and planned to convert it into a 210-bedroom hotel. As of April 2011, the building's outer concrete walls had been completely removed, revealing its internal skeleton, to be replaced by metal and glass curtain walls. The building is expected to reopen in August 2012.