Recognition for Appleton Tower modernisation project

University landmark is given a facelift

Appleton Tower, is this year’s winner of the ‘Design Through Innovation’ category in the 2018 RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Awards.  The Tower’s renovation project, which was completed in November 2017, has also been submitted for the Scottish Design Awards in the Interior Design category.

Appleton Tower has been transformed from a drab 1960’s ‘eye-sore‘ to an attractive, landmark building by remodelling the building's exterior to include vertical PV panels embedded into the wall face.  A glazed rooftop extension has been added and a new entrance on the east side of the building offers better disability access.   

The renovation project was carried out by the University’s Estates Department to modernise the building and create a better learning environment for students. A range of flexible accommodation offers new methods of open plan teaching and study for the School of Informatics faculty. Levels three, four, five, seven and eight have been reconfigured to provide a variety of new social, study and commercialisation spaces, robotics labs, meeting rooms and a pop-up cafe. The new top storey, level nine, has been created from the old roof plant rooms to provide postgraduate study space and level six has been completely refurbished to make it open plan. All the upper spaces have incredible views of the City which include Edinburgh Castle, Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood.

Designed in 1963 by the respected post-war Edinburgh architects Reiach and Hall, the building is recognised as a great example of modern design by Historic Environment Scotland. It was opened in 1968 and named in honour of the physicist Sir Edward Appleton. 

April 2018