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Press Releases
On the waterfront for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland staff
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland staff today began moving from Queen Margaret Drive to a new state of the art broadcast headquarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow.
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Approximately 100 radio staff settled in to their new offices today (16 April). Remaining staff will move in a phased approach until all 1,320 have taken up residency by August 2007.
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"It's amazing to be the first staff to work here," says Sharon Mair, Radio Scotland's Editor for Business Change & Independent Productions.
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She continues: "The building will be absolutely fantastic for us. Yes, there's the new technology, but there's also the broadcast space itself. We can operate from the public reception foyer right up to the restaurant on the fifth floor.
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"It opens up a huge number of possibilities for us. It's also great to know that within hours of us moving here, Radio will transform the space into an active broadcast centre and a vibrant new 24/7 presence in the local community."
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Situated on the banks of the River Clyde and next to Glasgow's Science Centre, the 34,000m² building, designed by leading international architect David Chipperfield, incorporates three key elements: digital broadcasting facilities, flexible offices/creative spaces and substantial public areas.
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The main 648m² public reception area offers audiences and visitors a chance to enjoy the building, see ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland at work and interact with great content.
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With cutting edge installations to discover and access to a wide variety of content, and a cafe area for all to use, the public space will be a big draw for audiences when it is fully operational later this summer.
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The arresting building is clad predominantly with a triple-glazed system which provides natural ventilation.
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A defining feature at the heart of the building is an internal, stepped "street" that rises 28.5 metres (93.5ft) throughout the entire length of the design, from ground level to fifth floor.
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The main broadcasting studios are housed directly underneath with break-out spaces and informal meeting areas on top.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland's new building will be the world's first fully digital operation with the world's first integrated content production systems for radio, TV and internet service. The new centre also features high definition studios and production facilities.
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Studio A is the biggest TV recording space built in Scotland – it encloses a staggering 790m² (8500ft²) and will have a hi-tech hover pad audience seating system which can be towed in and out of the studio when required.
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As the prime systems integrator, Siemens IT Solutions and Services delivered the complete technology solution.
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Other new technology implemented includes digital production and post-production (including graphics and dubbing) radio production and studios, TV studios, presentation and play-out facilities, a digital library and rich media infrastructure.
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Pacific Quay is on track to be delivered within the approved total budget of £188.4m. The total budget covers land, buildings, fit-out, technology, training and migration costs associated with the development of the new broadcast operation at Pacific Quay and the roll out of new digital technology across all the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s production bases in Scotland.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland will also continue to work in partnership with Glasgow City Council; Scottish Enterprise; Glasgow Science Centre; Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre; Pacific Quay Developments; Clyde Waterfront Partnership and other key stakeholders, to progress the implementation of a new masterplan for the whole of Pacific Quay.
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Ken MacQuarrie, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland Controller, said: "This magnificent building is unique, offering a fantastic working environment which will shape the future of broadcasting and welcome our audiences to come in and see their ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳. I believe our new HQ will become a living, breathing creative hub.
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"As it's the only centre to join up every aspect of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s media - TV, online, interactive and radio whilst linking all our centres around Scotland - we will help set a standard for the whole of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ and the broadcasting industry.
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"It's a fantastic achievement and enormous credit is due to the joint ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, Siemens and JCI team (facilities manager) who have worked brilliantly together to make this happen."
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Notes to Editors
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QMD Glasgow Limited recently lodged a detailed planning application with Glasgow City Council for the proposed redevelopment of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland's current headquarters at Queen Margaret Drive in Glasgow's west end. ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland is supporting the planning application.
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The new build residential element of the development will be undertaken by Applecross, Esk and Blackrock International Land plc, who form QMD Glasgow Limited, and consists of 185 flats and three townhouses with frontages to both Hamilton Drive and the River Kelvin.
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The conversion and adaptation of the existing listed buildings, to be undertaken by Esk Properties and Blackrock International Land plc, will entail the creation of a high quality 85-bed hotel with associated facilities.
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Photographs of the new ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland headquarters building at Pacific Quay are available on request.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland Press Office
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