Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters, Edinburgh

The Royal Bank of Scotland’s new global headquarters provides a world class working environment for its 3250 head office staff on the outskirts of Edinburgh. 100 acres of landscaped, woodland grounds provide a campus-style setting for one million square feet of development with office accommodation in seven low rise office buildings linked by an elegant, 300 m long, glass-covered street, with shops, a bank, cafés and a restaurant.  Access to the site is via a new feature bridge over the main A8 road into Edinburgh.

The development illustrates a high level of innovative and sustainable design and in every aspect has delivered to the Royal Bank of Scotland a head office building in keeping with its status as the fifth largest bank in the world.  

WSP provided a fully integrated engineering design service

• The development has been awarded the highest BREEAM rating
• Numerous energy saving measures include with free cooling for much of the year and heat reclamation for all air systems
• Innovative structural design involving a post-tensioned concrete frame to reduce building heights, create flat slabs and give clear ceiling voids 
• Innovative geotechnical designs to accommodate the high water table and flow of groundwater from one side of the site to the other 
• Detailed design and supervision of all off-site highway works to mitigate the effects of the additional traffic included a new access from the main A8 dual carriageway into Edinburgh

“The project was delivered to the satisfaction of the Group Chief Executive, three months ahead of time and on budget, and the quality of the work has been acknowledged by numerous awards.  This is truly a world class working environment and the thrill now is seeing our designs come to life with our staff using and enjoying facilities like the street just as we envisaged.” 

Neil Grassie, Senior manager working with Property Development and Asset Management at the Royal Bank of Scotland