Jocelyn Square, Glasgow Student Accommodation

A fresh and distinctive student accommodation offering in the attractive and vibrant Merchant City district of Glasgow is being constructed by Robertson.

With an appealing red façade designed to fit in beautifully with the surrounding buildings, the new 169-bedroom accommodation will provide much-needed homes for some of the city’s brightest minds.

With social and study spaces purpose-built for student life, Jocelyn Square will be a perfect home for those attending the city’s prestigious universities and colleges.

Versatile and modern study/social spaces on each of its six floors, with additional flexible space on the ground floor, will encourage interaction among the building’s dwellers.

And each of the attractive and comfortable primarily studio-style apartments have 16-17m2 floor space, providing plenty of room to relax and recharge.

The construction comprises a piled foundation, facing brick, and a rainscreen cladding and curtain walling, which subtly integrates the building into the surrounding area.

The design includes a “blue” roof which acts as a sustainable urban drainage solution, dispersing excess water from the roof in a measured and controlled way, for the benefit of the building’s maintenance.

Constructed within the Merchant City, adjacent to the Glasgow High Court, the location could not be better.

However, a nearby railway line has presented our site team with additional challenges. Thankfully we have vast experience of working close to railways, having successfully completed many projects where this was a factor.

On this project, the railway line is used for empty rolling stock and occasional light freight, and there are no passenger services. As the line is 17 meters from our construction site, our customer has entered into a BAPA (Basic Asset Protection Agreement) with Network Rail.

We have worked closely with Network Rail throughout the project, holding weekly meetings to discuss submissions, designs, and sharing any information they require. We have also selected CFA (continuous flight auger) piling to minimise vibrations, and we will be monitoring levels throughout the project. 

The location of the railway line has added complexity to the project, but our expertise and ability to work closely with our customer and Network Rail has made this a seamless and painless process.

Supporting the education of Glasgow’s students is at the very heart of this project. And as a responsible business, we are always looking to bring lasting benefits in the areas we work in.

That’s why we have embarked on a series of educational activities linked to our Jocelyn Square project. We have been working with City of Glasgow College to deliver career talks, CV Building workshops, and Mock Interview sessions for their Foundation Apprenticeship and Women In Construction classes.

We have also welcomed Glasgow Caledonian University’s Construction Management students on two site visits, and members of our team attended Shawlands Academy’s Careers Fair to advise young people of the many interesting and rewarding opportunities available in construction.

By supporting the local community with these educational events, we are adding important social value and supporting the wider construction industry.

It's the Robertson Way.