AECOM launches new Glasgow office

Engineering and consulting firm AECOM has opened the doors of a new office in Scotland. The locale in Glasgow is the latest in a raft of refurbishments across Europe for the infrastructure consulting firm.

AECOM is a multinational infrastructure consulting firm, with approximately 51,000 global employees. To provide advisory and project management services to clients in the UK, AECOM also has a team of staff based across seven British offices, taking on UK and international projects. This includes more than 500 in its Glasgow wing.

As expectations grow for the built environment to meet with key net zero goals in the coming decades, AECOM is playing a key role in advising firms with the transition. However, this means it also needs to be seen to practice what it preaches – and to that end, AECOM has announced the latest of a series of refits across Europe, aimed at improving the sustainability credentials of its offices.

The firm’s new Glasgow office brings together its team in the city on one site; a sustainable building, certified by the International WELL Building Institute, it is perfectly located in the city centre, well connected to Central, Queen Street and Anderston stations, as well as the main cycle, driving and bus routes. The whole building is also 'touchless', meaning in the post-pandemic era, staff can arrive and not have to touch anything until reaching their desk.

“I am incredibly proud of what we’ve got here in Glasgow as it’s a significant step up in quality”, said Craig Little, Glasgow Office Leader. “It was always the aspiration to move to a single space in Glasgow and this beautiful new office in the city centre benefits both colleagues and clients.”

Colleagues using the office can use individual sitting desks, collaborative areas to catch-up with colleagues and break-out spaces to take a moment for their wellbeing. Other features, designed by AECOM’s in-house interior design team include workstation areas, break-out and sitting areas, individual booths for calls, open collaboration project tables, a confidential project room, a prayer room, a mother and wellness room and a business garden. On top of the office, there is also an 8,000 square foot roof terrace incorporating Scotland’s first roof-top running track, giving Glasgow colleagues the chance to exercise in the day, along with spa-like shower facilities and more than 400 cycle racks.

The news comes as AECOM’s European office portfolio continues to be upgraded. Other recent and ongoing moves and upgrades include Athens, Leuven, Manchester, Liverpool and Poznan. Every location has already or will undergo a transition to AECOM’s Purpose Driven Workplace, which aims to support our employees in a similar way to Glasgow.

Colin Wood, Chief Executive of AECOM in Europe & India added, “The last few years have seen businesses increasingly move to hybrid working where feasible. As a company we were well ahead of the curve on this, introducing our Freedom to Grow initiative back in 2019.

“We know workplaces today need to cater for variation in working patterns and styles: some people like coming into the office to connect or collaborate, while others are driven by presence with purpose – coming in for a specific event. As a major employer across Europe with circa 9,000 people, it’s important our real estate portfolio is flexible enough to cater for a diverse workforce and the knowledge that working patterns may yet further evolve. Our Glasgow office is perfect for these scenarios.”