The first commercial building constructed from shipping containers in Scotland.
Location
Construction Video
About architect - Aim Design
About builder - Maxi Construction
| Project | District 10 Container Building |
| Architect | Ged Young, Aim Design |
| Builder | Maxi Construction |
| Structural and Civil Engineers | Fairhursts |
| Services Consultants | BBH |
| Cost Consultants | WJR Christie & Partners |
| Containers | 37 |
| Area | 950 sqm |
| Offices | 15 no. 38m2 offices, 1 no. 31m2 office, a communal kitchen/common room, a meeting room |
| Year | 2013 |
| Location | Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom |
Awards
- 2014 Scottish Design Awards: Commendation for Architecture: Commercial/ Offices Building or Project
- 2014 Dundee Civic Trust Awards: Commendation for its outstanding contribution to the townscape of Dundee
- 2014 Dundee Institute of Architects: Best Commercial Building, award for Interior Design and the Supreme Award for best overall project.
The District 10 container office building, designed by Ged Young of Aim Design Architects, received several awards including Best Commercial Building, an award for Interior Design as well as picking up the award for Best Client, Scottish Enterprise. The night was complete when the project received the top award of the evening, the Supreme Award for best overall project.
The first commercial container building for early start businesses in Scotland was opened in September 2013 at Seabraes, a former railway goods yard located to the west of Dundee’s waterfront. The project was joint funded by Scottish Enterprise, the European Regional Development Fund, Tayside charity Matthew Trust and received a financial boost from the Scottish Government’s capital investment in shovel ready projects.
Dundee is renowned for its expertise in digital media and creative industries. More than 350 businesses in the sector, employing more than 3300 people, are currently based in Dundee and the surrounding area generating a combined annual turnover in excess of £185 million.
The building achieves a high level of sustainability and is accredited as a BREEAM excellent project. Constructed from 37 recycled shipping containers it provides 15 lettable units for up to 4 people. The facility is aimed at early stage creative industry companies and builds on Dundee’s enviable reputation for creative companies that can deliver innovative and successful products.
Ged Young, the architect for the project, said: “This is a wonderfully positive story for the city. The building is a first for Scotland and Dundee and we are delighted for District 10 to receive the recognition that these awards celebrate. The building is almost fully let in little more than a year from opening and has become a recognised architectural feature within the Dundee Waterfront development. This project is yet another step towards the delivery of a successful waterfront and we look forward to the future commencement of the V&A and surrounding development with great anticipation and excitement.”
Description by architect
As an initial stepping stone to realising a larger creative media district development, Scottish Enterprise commissioned Aim to design proposals for an office space aimed at start-ups in the digital media sector. The building was constructed from recycled shipping containers in line with the modular construction ethos developed for District 10.
A BREEAM excellent standard building, District 10 provides 15 flexible workspace units each formed from two combined shipping containers. Common amenities and a break out cafe and meeting spaces support the workspaces.
The brand name and industrial design conveys cargo, transport or modular construction likened to a crating stamp. Externally, the building’s brand aesthetic origins link to the 1990s game Tetris. Each elevation is a game screen with pixelated shapes. This pixelation is carried through internally and on all branding and marketing material.
The spaces within the building have been designed to retain the industrial aesthetic of the containers, whilst creating a vibrant space that is comfortable and practical for users. Bold pixelated colour and pattern are used in communal areas to create a strong visual identity and unmistakable character for the building throughout.
“Aim have created a visually striking building that will be the cornerstone for future modular development in this significant part of Dundee’s Waterfront development.’’ - Peter Noad - Scottish Enterprise
“Aim’s industrial aesthetic has been applied to the building in its entirety creating an innovative and inspiring interior befitting of its past and present use.” - Isla Robb - Scottish Enterprise
Description by builder
Description of Works: Construction of a 3-storey office building providing approximately 950m2 of space using recycled shipping containers for Scottish Enterprise. Registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme the project received a Certificate of Performance Beyond Compliance and was delivered to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard and within the ethos of the Dundee Waterfront ‘BREEAM Sustainable Communities’ bid.
The building provides:
- 15 no. 38m2 offices with tea prep facilities
- 1 no. 31m2 office
- a communal kitchen/common room
- a meeting room
Works included:
- new access road, car parking, pavements
- new sub-station and services infrastructure
- a building shell constructed from recycled shipping containers with heavily insulated and sealed wall, roof and floor linings
- Sarnafil polymeric roof
- a central steel self-supporting stairwell
- mechanical and electrical services including a passenger lift and roof-top pv panels
Challenges
- Achieving the required BREEAM credits. Site registered with the Considerate Constructers Scheme with aim to achieve minimum score of 32 (exceeded on 2 audits), responsible sourcing of timber from FSC suppliers, use of recycled aggregates and effective management of site impacts e.g. waste, energy, water consumption and transport. SWMP encouraged reduction, re-use and recycling of materials and identified target for non-hazardous waste not to exceed 3.2 tonnes or 3.4m2 per 100m2.
- Revised drainage layout required due to the drainage impact assessment being re-assessed and showing a risk of flooding. Revised drainage designs were concluded and approved for use.
Sustainability
Registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme the project received a Certificate of Performance Beyond Compliance and was delivered to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard and within the ethos of the Dundee Waterfront ‘BREEAM Sustainable Communities’ bid.
Awards
- 2014 Scottish Design Awards: Commendation for Architecture: Commercial/ Offices Building or Project
- 2014 Dundee Civic Trust Awards: Commendation for its outstanding contribution to the townscape of Dundee
- 2014 Dundee Institute of Architects: Best Commercial Building, award for Interior Design and the Supreme Award for best overall project.
Insulation
Spacetherm Blanket has been installed in a unique office construction, in Dundee, which consists of 37 recycled shipping containers.
The first of 10 buildings for ‘early stage’ creative companies in the heart of Seabraes Yard has 15 lettable office units, over three floors. The building has a striking appearance – 36 containers with one turned on its end to form the entrance lobby. Each unit provides comfortable furnished space for up to four people.
Spacetherm Blanket, with a thermal conductivity of 0.015 W/mK, offered a flexible yet robust insulation blanket solution for this space-critical application. Its flexibility and ease of use was proven as the insulation material of choice in this application. Combining a silica aerogel with a fibre matrix, it is a superior material which is suitable for a wide range of challenging applications where thermal performance is crucial.
| Address | The Haugh, Ashgrove Rd, Blairgowrie PH10 7ER, United Kingdom |
| Phone | +44 1250 872261 |
| contact@proctorgroup.com | |
| Website | https://proctorgroup.com/projects/spacetherm-dundee |
Location
Address: 25 Greenmarket, Dundee DD1 4QB, United Kingdom
Construction Video
About architect - Aim Design
A design led Practice positively engaged in challenging Architecture, creative Interiors and emotive media solutions.
Aim are a multi-discipline Practice offering a range of services including concept design, feasibilities, the full range of chartered architects services, master planning, conservation, zero carbon initiatives, interior design, visualisation & animation, graphic design, interpretive planning, exhibition design, brand awareness & marketing.
We have developed our design house over the last decade to provide a hybrid service of highly intuitive and creative solutions. It is this concise and integrated design approach that delivers homogenous design solutions throughout all project stages.
Each project is subject to rigorous energy & sustainability assessment and has led to the practice adoption and development of a zero carbon construction policy which is a continuing aspiration and a core element of each project programme.
Aim have won a series of awards for design excellence ranging from single house projects to mixed use developments and promote a studio approach in research and collaboration to produce dynamic yet appropriate project solutions for our extensive client base.
| Address | Unit 5, City Quay, camperdown st, Dundee DD1 3JA, United Kingdom |
| Phone | +44 1382 200505 |
| admin@aimdesign.co.uk | |
| Website | https://aimdesign.co.uk/ |
About builder - Maxi Construction
Established Principal Contractor
Founded in 1971 Maxi Construction has delivered new build, extension, fit-out and refurbishment projects in all market sectors throughout central and southern Scotland.
Competent Contractor
Our Integrated Management System is certified by BM Trada as meeting the requirements of ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018. We are also Constructionline registered.
Financially stable
With no borrowing, substantial reserves and a strong bank balance we have the financial strength and resources to meet our Clients’ requirements and are in a strong position to expand to accommodate additional capacity.
Over 50 years’ experience in construction
We have delivered projects in all market sectors over the past 50+ years. The more unusual have included a boathouse in Kirkintilloch, a wind tunnel building for Heriot Watt University, a firing range at Glencorse Barracks, the refurbishment of Gourock outdoor pool, an office built from shipping containers and the reconstruction of the 18th century Botanic Cottage.
Committed to sustainable development
We maintain a focus on sustainability via our environmental objectives.
Contractor of Choice
Our Quality Policy outlines our commitment to becoming a Contractor of Choice. We measure and monitor Client Satisfaction with a view to continuous improvement.
| Address | Firth Rd, Livingston EH54 5DJ, United Kingdom |
| Phone | +44 1506 442233 |
| action@maxiconstruction.co.uk | |
| Website | https://www.maxiconstruction.co.uk/ |
District 10 Industrial Aesthetic Shipping Container Office Building, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom