The first phase of the Kelvin Hall development was opened by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, on 11 November 2016 writes Murray Pittock, Pro Vice-Principal . 

Kelvin Hall opening 

Kelvin Hall was a world first in two ways: in bringing HE, civic and national institutions into partnership in one building, and in its co-location of culture and sport, both of which bring well-evidenced benefits for health and well-being.

The partners in this £35M development were the University/Hunterian, Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council and the National Library of Scotland, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and the Scottish Government.

One year on, how is Kelvin Hall progressing?

The innovative redevelopment of this landmark building has been widely recognized, as has its potential as a location for digital innovation, health and wellbeing, training and development and collections research.

Kelvin Hall is the Scottish hub for the £9.5M UK sound archive, for which the National Library of Scotland is the partner. Kelvin Hall has attracted a wide range of conferences and international research interest, not least from the Smithsonian, a strategically key partner for UofG: two senior Smithsonian staff have recently been appointed to honorary professorships.

Collaborations

A joint research and exhibitions project relating to the Arts of China is also under way with the University of Manchester, and discussions concerning future collaboration have been held with a wide range of HE institutions and civic partners ranging from Newcastle to the University of British Columbia, while a joint research concordat is now in place covering the University/Hunterian, Glasgow Museums, the National Galleries and the National Library.

Kelvin Hall’s potential as an anchor institution for audience development and digital and collections based research and innovation was recognized by its selection as the sole UK Anchor Institution case study at Universitas 21 in May this year. It has also become the Scottish hub for PhD material culture training through The Stuff of Research programme from the Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities.

The numbers

Kelvin Hall is now the location for courses involving over 200 PGT students working on material culture and related topics

It attracts up to 25000 visitors a week (600 000 in the period up to July this year) as a health, community and tourism venue.

The University/Hunterian facilities at Kelvin Hall have had 21 000 users, and 4000 objects have been used in teaching and research in a context of continuing growth across all the Hunterian’ activities and audiences.

Award-winning

Kelvin Hall has won or been shortlisted for the following awards:

  • Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Scotland): Project o the Year, Tourism and Leisure Awards, UK Project of the Year shortlist
  • AJ100: Building of the Year and Client of the Year shortlist
  • Scottish Property Awards: Award of Merit
  • Scottish Design Awards: Shortlist
  • EDGE Award: Innovative Library Development
  • Alzheimers Scotland Awards: shortlist for work of NLS with dementia sufferers
  • Herald Awards: best regeneration project

Phase 2

During 2017, work has been continuing on an £8M roof upgrade for the still vacant part of Kelvin Hall, funded by Glasgow City and the Scottish Government. An extended partnership, including the University, Glasgow Life, the National Galleries, the National Library and the Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum, are currently discussing options for moving ahead with the first part of a Phase 2 development which will extend the reach and appeal of this unique resource yet further, giving the University of Glasgow a deeper engagement and role in creating a thriving community of innovation with its own, civic and national resources.

The current and further development of Kelvin Hall can only enhance the University’s opportunities to engage with world-leading national and international research and collections partners in a climate of major growth in collections engagement worldwide. It will enhance our role in becoming a beacon for the city region and its cultural and creative economies. 

First published: 7 November 2017

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