Collaboration Across Scotland’s Justice Agencies
BMJ Architects acted as Lead Consultant and Interior Architect for the Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh, delivered in collaboration with GMA/Ryder for the Scottish Government.
Concept and Strategy
The campus brings together the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, Serious Organised Crime Agency, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, Scottish Police Services Authority Forensic Services and Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service in a single purpose-designed facility.
The brief required a complex balance of security, operational efficiency, evidence handling, specialist forensic laboratory provision and shared working. BMJ worked with all agencies to ensure the building met current and future operational requirements while encouraging collaboration and innovation across services.
A Secure Workplace Arranged Around a Central Atrium
The main building is a four-storey structure arranged around a central atrium with transepts. While primarily an office development, it also includes forensic laboratories and supporting facilities, providing accommodation for more than 1,100 people.
The building is arranged as four connected elements forming a U-shape around the central atrium. Compact floorplates reduce heat loss, while generous floor-to-ceiling heights encourage natural daylight penetration from the external elevations and atrium.
Environmental Performance with a Clear Visual Identity
The atrium supports both collaboration and environmental performance. It creates a strong inside-outside connection, brings daylight into the building and contributes to the ventilation strategy through natural stack effect.
The façade and interior concept draw on themes of identity and identification. Visual references associated with DNA sequencing, barcodes and fingerprints are abstracted into the façade, landscape and atrium finishes, giving the campus a clear and recognisable identity.
Explore the Details
