Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Speirs Locks Studios

A redevelopment of industrial units, completed over two phases including new build extension elements. The building accommodates superior-quality ballet rehearsal studios, flexible dance and drama studios, large scale TV studios, gymnasium, classrooms, teaching workshop areas, meeting rooms, and flexible social spaces.
To assist the architect in achieving his aim of high-quality, day-lit and naturally-ventilated dance spaces, computer modelling techniques were used extensively to inform the design at each stage of development.
Due cognisance had to be taken of the higher-than-normal room temperatures required for ballet rehearsal spaces, minimum of 25°C, in the heating design. This presented a challenge in limiting summer overheating which we overcame by using larger rooflight opening areas.
Design solutions include air to water heat pumps and LED lighting.

Glasgow Film Theatre


The new cinema 3, with a remodelled ramp way entrance sequence from the existing foyer level, was proposed to replace the existing, and somewhat under utilised, Café Cosmo space. To optimise the screening layout and to accommodate the requirement for sixty seats every inch of construction space became valuable. Some careful under excavation and stripping back works in & around the existing fabric & structure was required to provide complete sound separation from above and adjacent cinema's 1 & 2.

A new ‘box in box’ construction and tiered seating arrangement maximised the viewing potential aiding to a greater user experience. NORD’s approach & strategy to the new cinema’s internal treatment was one to combine the demanding acoustic requirements with a rich architectural expression. Through collaborative detailing & specification design with our cinema consultants a technically focused but aesthetically driven attitude to the new inserted construction offered a strong and confident contemporary feel.

A new ebony-coloured timber acoustic ‘hood’ defines the room crafted in a manner that adds a subtle, but rich, sense of decoration to the compact space while concealing all AV equipment, LED lighting and ventilation components and importantly reducing visual distractions.

A key design component to the whole user experience was in the seat selection. Designed and agreed in hand with the GFT, the bespoke leather Quinette Gallay ‘Charles’ seats with their teak backings enhanced the spatial qualities while alluding to and making visual material reference to the former grandeur of the 1939 interiors.

The new auditoria space now not only functions as a typical cinema film screening room but also is properly equipped for other demands and uses such as film director Q&A, lecture series modes and commercial events. The new space provides a 'fit for purpose’ auditoria arrangement now allowing greater flexible opportunities for the Glasgow Film Theatre to expand on their current external programme creating up to 1,500 new screening slots per year and also encourages youth activities providing a permanent home to the Glasgow Youth Film Festival team.

Disciplines