A highly-anticipated purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development in Glasgow’s city centre has topped out, reaching full height at 36 metres. The Bath Street PBSA scheme is for iQ Student Accommodation – one of the leading providers of PBSA in the UK. The project is being delivered by GRAHAM Building North.
GRAHAM were joined by iQ’s Chief Development Officer, Matthew Loughlin, and members of the project team including architect Cooper Cromar, engineering consultant Woolgar Hunter, project manager AtkinsRéalis, and cost consultants Cumming Group to celebrate the milestone at an event on 9 July. Guests were invited to sign the commemorative board to mark their visit, followed by a site tour and lunch.
“Just 12 months ago, this team was here at the ground breaking ceremony and it’s exciting to think that in another 12 months, we’ll be back here to celebrate the practical completion, ready to move students for their 2025/26 academic year.”
Matthew Loughlin, Chief Development Officer, iQ Student Accommodation
GRAHAM has been progressing construction works at pace, completing the cores within eight weeks by January 2024. The development is expected to be completed in summer 2025, before welcoming students in September 2025.
“AtkinsRéalis is delighted to be part of this project which will have a significant impact on the provision of student accommodation across the city, providing modern day living and onsite amenities.
“Working alongside iQ Student Accommodation, GRAHAM and the wider project team, our project managers are excited to have achieved this major milestone and look forward to progressing the development over the next period.”
Tom McDougall, Director at AtkinsRealis
Delivering 551 student apartments, the development delivers a contemporary design with glazed frontage, complementing the existing streetscape. Amenities at the scheme include a gym, gaming arcade, dining spaces and social areas.
The Bath Street development replaces a vacant 1970s office block which was demolished in 2023, making way for the the new iQ Student Accommodation scheme which represents a major boost of supply in Glasgow, an area that currently has significant shortages of student accommodation.
“Glasgow has the largest demand and supply imbalance of student accommodation in the UK and the delivery of more than 500 new apartments is critical for the city.
“The project team has designed an innovative scheme that responds to modern-day student requirements, while simultaneously breathing new life into an important city centre location. The development reaching full height is a key project milestone that we are proud to celebrate, and we look forward to progressing with the next phase of works.”
Gary Holmes, Regional Managing Director at GRAHAM Building North
