Port Hamilton

Port Hamilton is the comprehensive refurbishment of one of Edinburgh's most recognisable office buildings, transforming the former Scottish Widows headquarters into Lloyds Banking Group's new Scottish headquarters. Rather than replacing the existing 1997 building, the project demonstrates how intelligent retrofit can extend the life of commercial assets while significantly improving environmental performance, workplace quality and operational efficiency. The project delivers a complete renewal of the building, including a new façade, roof and fully decarbonised building services, alongside the creation of additional floor area and enhanced connectivity. Designed in line with UK Green Building Council Net Zero Carbon targets, the development adopts a fabric-first approach, targeting BREEAM Excellent, a fossil fuel-free building services strategy and a substantial reduction in operational and whole-life carbon. Harley Haddow provided both structural and MEP engineering services, enabling an integrated design approach throughout the project.

Refurbishing a complex, occupied city-centre building of this scale presented significant technical and programme challenges. A detailed understanding of the existing structure was essential to unlock opportunities for additional floor area while avoiding unnecessary intervention that would increase cost, programme and embodied carbon. The project also required the simultaneous development of the landlord Cat A refurbishment and Lloyds Banking Group's Cat B fit-out, demanding close coordination between multiple disciplines to maintain programme certainty and deliver a seamless outcome. At the same time, ambitious sustainability objectives required major improvements in building performance while retaining as much of the existing asset as possible to minimise embodied carbon and support the client's ESG commitments.

Harley Haddow's first priority was developing a comprehensive understanding of the existing building. Extensive archive reviews, targeted structural investigations and the creation of a detailed 3D Revit model at Stage 2 provided the entire project team with a clear picture of the building's structural constraints and opportunities. This enabled the design to evolve around the existing structure, minimising structural intervention while maximising additional floor area, improving connectivity between the building's five blocks and creating greater long-term value for the client. Retaining the majority of the existing structural frame significantly reduced embodied carbon while avoiding unnecessary construction works, helping the project remain on programme and within budget. This approach aligned directly with the client's net zero ambitions and whole-life carbon objectives. Delivering both structural and MEP engineering services under one roof provided further value by enabling rapid coordination, integrated optioneering and efficient resolution of complex design interfaces without delays between consultants. This collaborative approach supported the delivery of a fully electric, fossil fuel-free building services strategy alongside major upgrades to the façade, roof and internal environment. The completed design combines enhanced energy performance with a healthier, more flexible workplace capable of supporting over 10,000 colleagues. Through intelligent reuse of the existing building, integrated engineering and low-carbon design, Port Hamilton demonstrates how large-scale commercial retrofit can deliver exceptional environmental performance, future-ready workplaces and lasting value for both occupier and owner.