01 / Case Study
Project Overview
Full building services design for the Smart Things Accelerator Centre (STAC)
Location / Glasgow
Contract Value / £2.3m
Client / Adams Consulting
Architect / Ingram Architects
Completion / 2024
02 / Overview
Our role in the project
CAT A/B office refurbishment for Smart Things Accelerator Centre (STAC). DSSR provided full design of MEP to reflect CAT B requirements.
DSSR designed the building services for a new 22,000ft2 tech incubator named “thebeyond” at Skypark in the west end of Glasgow—described by The Herald as the largest “smart things” hub in Europe.
“Thebeyond” houses cutting-edge facilities, including electronics and fabrication labs, a research and development makerspace, a 250-desk co-working area, a media lab, and hot desking zones.
The space also includes a workshop with 10 bays for carrying out practical work on electronics such as soldering. In order to facilitate this kind of work safely, we assisted the introduction of local exhaust ventilation.
The project features exposed, suspended VRF heating and cooling, natural ventilation with local extracts, suspended LED linear light fittings, relocated metered utility electrical supply, and underfloor busbar / grommets and floor boxes.
The Smart Things Accelerator Centre (STAC) spearheaded the initiative which aims to bolster Scotland’s burgeoning tech scene. The partnership’s vision is to position Glasgow as a global epicenter for smart things and Internet of Things (IoT) innovation.
This ambitious project is a collaborative effort between STAC, the UK Government, and Glasgow City Council, backed by substantial public and private investment—notably, Federated Hermes, the global investment firm and owner of Skypark, which contributed £2.5 million.
“The launch of thebeyond takes STAC to the next level as we continue on our mission to build world-class start-ups who can compete on a global level. We support our companies through mentorship, access to talent, funding, and networks, and it is a model which is unique on the Scottish tech scene.
“We now have a comprehensive environment to accelerate the entire product development process, providing inventors and developers with the tools and resources needed to bring their ideas to life, from concept to prototype.”
Paul Wilson, Chief Executive & Founder of the Smart Things Accelerator Centre (STAC)