AtkinsRéalis leads delivery of James Watt lecture theatre refurbishment at the University of Glasgow

AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering and project management services company, has delivered a major refurbishment of the renowned James Watt South Lecture Theatre for the University of Glasgow, enhancing accessibility, inclusivity and student experience within one of its most historically significant teaching spaces.

The James Watt South Lecture Theatre (Constructed in the 1950s) is a 200‑seat traditional Stevenson lecture hall known for its distinctive Art Deco domed ceiling. Following water ingress and the need for extensive strip‑out works, the university commissioned a full refurbishment in order to enhance accessibility, improve the student experience and drive performance and long‑term operation.

As lead advisor on the project AtkinsRéalis provided a full suite of multidisciplinary services, including, project management, cost management, principal design and structural engineering. The Glasgow-based team was able to bring detailed knowledge of the university’s design standards, governance and quality requirements thanks to extensive experience working across the University of Glasgow Estates.

A key outcome of the project is improved accessibility, with several physical and functional upgrades including levelled flooring at the top tier to create wheelchair‑accessible spaces, accessible doors with push‑button entry, and wheelchair‑height desks with adjustable seating. These improvements ensure the lecture theatre is welcoming, inclusive and functional for all students.

The original domed ceiling presented some complex refurbishment challenges but these were solved with an innovative acoustic ceiling spray to meet rigorous acoustic specifications while minimising visual obstructions and protecting its structural integrity.

Bespoke timber acoustic wall panelling also provided excellent acoustic absorption through a unique micro-perforated technology with both acoustic solutions providing a first-of-its-kind implementation on the University of Glasgow campus, while at the same time supporting sustainability objectives with the high rate of recycled materials and low emissions manufacturing.By adopting a strip-back-to-shell approach the team created opportunities for innovative solutions to fundamental issues within the Category B listed building, while at the same time carefully respecting its heritage constraints and functionality requirements.

The project was also notable for the collaborative, multi‑disciplinary team of women who led its delivery and with International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) being celebrated on Tuesday June 23rd, lead project manager Hope Shaw says it highlights the positive influence of diverse leadership and has the potential to inspire young women thinking of a career in the industry.

The team leading on the refurbishment. Top left to right: Caroline Gray (UofG Head of Projects), Caitlin Smith
(Interior Designer), Jodie Glennon (Architect), Rose Wan (Mechanical Engineer), Rebecca Carr-Brown
(Lead Mechanical Engineer).
Bottom left to right: Sylvia Tan Sze Wei (Cost Manager), Nicole Redman (UofG Clerk of Works), Lynsey Paterson
(Conservation Accredited Chartered Building Surveyor), Hope Shaw (Project Manager).

Hope Shaw, lead project manager at AtkinsRéalis said: “The refurbishment has significantly improved learning, teaching, and wellbeing for students, staff, and the wider university community, which were the key objectives for the project. But it also provided an opportunity to implement our values of collaborative problem solving and dedication to excellence.

“For me, the greatest success was delivering the project as part of a women‑led consultant and design team, demonstrating the value of inclusive practice in action. Representation like this is still rare in the built‑environment sector, and it was inspiring to see the impact diverse leadership can have on both project delivery and team culture.”

David Hall, Director of Projects, University of Glasgow, added: “For all our Estates projects, teams are built by selecting the best-suited experts both internally and through our supply chain. This outstanding project was largely delivered by our female experts, which is a really positive reflection of our strong EDI policies and the inclusive culture we’re building to support and nurture talent across our teams.”

The James Watt South Lecture Theatre Refurbishment is the latest project completed by AtkinsRéalis for the University of Glasgow where it has been working since 2015 to support the university’s long-term vision for the transformation of its campus and facilities.

About AtkinsRéalis    

 
Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital.  News and information are available at www.atkinsrealis.com or follow us on LinkedIn.