We were asked to undertake a study to consider the remedial and restoration works of the existing Hugh Smiley Building at the UWS Paisley Campus on behalf of the University of the West of Scotland. The building was originally designed as a children’s nursery comprising of Ground and First Floor with services located within a basement level, a single room annex to the rear of the property is accessed by a link corridor. The building is Category B Listed and is currently vacant last used as offices during the 2000s. The exterior of the building is illustrating the effects of lying dormant for a number of years with severe structural issues evident on the south gable and stone work in general need of repair. Internally the fabric is beginning to deteriorate.

The focus of this project is to refurbish and retrofit the building with a view to providing an adequate building asset moving forward. The Hugh Smiley Building is well positioned next to the principal avenue east-west through the campus and well positioned to serve as a signpost or gateway building. This unique position on the campus could allow the building to serve as a gathering place or welcome building to signpost students and guests to various locations on campus.

It is proposed that a new entrance is located to the south gable elevation of the building accessed from Storie street providing accessible entrance to the building within the existing link area of the building. This new rampway and staircase to the new entrance area will activate the south frontage of the building to the UWS Campus and provide an alternative entrance that improves the division of and accessibility to different educational functions of the building. This new ramp way will have no impact on the principal elevation of the building. This new entranceway will be house within a ‘battery pack’ style extension which is clearly differentiated from the original building reading as a new inserted element.