Level C, Argyle House, Edinburgh

 

Level C Argyle House Construction 5
Level C Argyle House Construction 3
Level C Argyle House Construction 2
Level C Argyle House Construction 1
Level C Argyle House Reception
Level C Argyle House Reception Desk
Project Description

Overview

Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, Argyle House is a 220,000 sq ft landmark building overlooking Edinburgh Castle. Home to a diverse mix of tenants—including professional practices, public sector organisations, and the University of Edinburgh—it remains one of the city’s most recognisable office buildings.

AGM Group was appointed following a competitive tender process led by real estate specialists Hollis Group, acting as contract administrators and project managers on behalf of the landlord, Telereal Trillium—one of the UK’s largest privately-owned property investment and development companies.

AGM was entrusted as main contractor, M&E designer and M&E contractor for the full refurbishment of Level C, transforming a dilapidated floor into a modern, flexible office environment.

The Project

Works included:

  • Flat roofing works and maintenance to rooflights, including replacement of 25 units
  • Demolition and full strip-out of cellular offices, ceilings, partitions, joinery, and finishes
  • Complete electrical reinstallation, including fire alarms, data systems and containment
  • Full mechanical design and installation, incorporating new ventilation and air conditioning systems
  • A specialist crane lift operation to position a new external air handling unit on the rooftop

The design aimed to convert the space into a premium, contemporary office environment featuring exposed mechanical and electrical services and structural concrete columns—delivering a modern, industrial aesthetic while ensuring full functionality for tenants.

Challenges

The project presented several challenges:

  • Covid restrictions: The works were carried out during the pandemic, requiring careful planning of access routes and working hours to avoid disruption to building users.
  • Live environment: With occupied offices above and below, noisy works had to be scheduled outside standard hours in close consultation with tenants.
  • Mechanical redesign: The landlord’s initial scheme proposed a wet heating system. AGM instead proposed a more efficient direct expansion air conditioning system with heat pump functionality, offering tenants greater control of heating and cooling. This required careful integration of external units and new ventilation strategies without impacting the building’s aesthetics.

Our Approach

AGM worked closely with Hollis Group and Telereal Trillium throughout the project, ensuring transparency and alignment at every stage. Key aspects of our approach included:

  • Value engineering: Conducting extensive cost analysis and presenting alternative M&E solutions that delivered improved performance and efficiency while achieving best value for the client.
  • Collaboration: Weekly progress meetings with contract administrators and project managers ensured clear communication and swift resolution of design and construction queries.
  • Technical precision: Detailed design development for the new mechanical systems, careful planning of external installations, and close coordination with the fire alarm commissioning team to ensure compliance and seamless integration.

The Result

The refurbishment of Level C was completed successfully, transforming the space into a modern, high-specification office environment. The project immediately attracted significant interest from prospective tenants, with viewings taking place even before official handover.

The client, Hollis Group, and Telereal Trillium were all delighted with the outcome, and AGM Group continues to enjoy a strong working relationship with both parties as a trusted delivery partner.