This is the second article ‘What Did I do Before Block Architects’ which features 2 buildings at Livingston Football Club completed when I was an Associate Director at GCA, Coatbridge. I spent 5 years at this Practice and made a few friends some of whom I keep in contact with today.
It was an interesting time working at Coatbridge. There was a smallish team of approximately 10 technical staff and 3 admin staff working on various small to medium sized projects. Many of the Projects were football based as the then Owner of the Practice, Mr Gerry Connolly was involved with a Development company which specialised in the redevelopment of Football Stadia.
I’ve attached a photograph which I took personally on Saturday whilst driving past the stadium. This is a 5 storey Office Development which was one of two proposed identical buildings were to flank opposite corners of the Main Stand. In the end we only ever built one of the office blocks.
At the time I was also responsible for delivering a detailed planning approval for a 60 bed hotel and leisure development which was to be located in front of the main stand. This development unfortunately was never realised by the Club but certainly it reflected the Strong Vision by then Chairman, Mr Dominic Keane.
As part of the Masterplan exercise we also considered some housing located on the site and also a 3 storey NightClub and Hospitality Wing which was to be set behind the West Stand, In the end up we built only the ground floor of the Night Club, known as (from memory) the NightSpot (quite original).
Unfortunately, there has been much negative press associated with Club in recent months but nonetheless I am proud to have been part of a Team who shared and attempted to deliver a Super Stadium for a well supported local Team.
It was an interesting time working at Coatbridge. There was a smallish team of approximately 10 technical staff and 3 admin staff working on various small to medium sized projects. Many of the Projects were football based as the then Owner of the Practice, Mr Gerry Connolly was involved with a Development company which specialised in the redevelopment of Football Stadia.
I’ve attached a photograph which I took personally on Saturday whilst driving past the stadium. This is a 5 storey Office Development which was one of two proposed identical buildings were to flank opposite corners of the Main Stand. In the end we only ever built one of the office blocks.
At the time I was also responsible for delivering a detailed planning approval for a 60 bed hotel and leisure development which was to be located in front of the main stand. This development unfortunately was never realised by the Club but certainly it reflected the Strong Vision by then Chairman, Mr Dominic Keane.
As part of the Masterplan exercise we also considered some housing located on the site and also a 3 storey NightClub and Hospitality Wing which was to be set behind the West Stand, In the end up we built only the ground floor of the Night Club, known as (from memory) the NightSpot (quite original).
Unfortunately, there has been much negative press associated with Club in recent months but nonetheless I am proud to have been part of a Team who shared and attempted to deliver a Super Stadium for a well supported local Team.
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