Developers look at the big picture as iconic former Odeon building
is imaginatively renovated after years of neglect. By Bob Serafini

THERE are few genuinely ‘iconic’ buildings in Glasgow, but the former Odeon on the corner of Renfield Street is certainly one of them.

The category B listed cinema and theatre, actually developed for Paramount in 1934, was one of the first buildings in the city with Neon lighting and included a stylish interior which featured Art Deco plasterwork, rattan chairs and potted palms.

Ditched by the American studio at the beginning of the Second World War, allegedly because they feared Britain might soon be over-run, it went on to claim its place in the lives of almost all of the city’s young people from then on.

As well as its film back catalogue, this vast building, taking up a whole city block and once accommodating 2800 people, can also be credited with bringing legends like Johnny Cash and Count Basie to the city, as well as the Beatles and Rolling Stones.

The property has since been chopped and changed so many times – responding to popular demand it once had as many as nine screens – before most dramatically in 2013 having its red brick back auditorium demolished to make way for a huge office tower now known as 1 West Regent Street.The protected element, the famous curved frontage and canopy under which you met your date, once contained the box office, tearooms and restaurants, and was separated and retained.

Even then, there were a few changes of plan for its future, considered suitable for various purposes, including boutique hotel, leisure and retail.

Having lain empty for years, after closing as a cinema a decade ago, the neglected property even appeared on the buildings at risk register.

To everyone’s relief, new owners Stelmain started work last summer on an exceptionally high quality refurbishment, due for completion in April, which will create "The Reel House", nearly 15,000 sq ft of office space over four levels, together with a new restaurant and retail at street level.

Coping with a stipulation that the double height windows at first floor level must be retained must have caused a few design headaches for Ryder architecture, but this has been resolved and Grade A standard offices with a difference been created thanks to new air conditioning, new LED lighting, and a mix of contemporary and original features.

A tour of the project showed principal contractors Property Management and Construction Ltd reinforcing the steelwork – the building was obviously never meant for office use – and hoping to sandblast support columns into a feature rather than box them in.

The unusual delights to attract occupiers include a curvaceous private balcony at floor three, overlooking city centre streets, and a roof garden on top which could be shared between occupiers.

Sarah Addis of Knight Frank, joint letting agents with JLL, said there were two floors with 2800 sq ft of space, flexibly space planned for up to 34 people, and two larger ones around 4500 sq ft.

"It is promising that there is already some early interest in this exciting and innovative office space, and we are excited to see the finished product," she said.

Rental levels are expected to be around the £23 per sq ft mark.

An American smokehouse restaurant – Red’s True BBQ – is understood to have already signed up for the main ground floor restaurant area.

This is the first outlet in Scotland for the chain, already established in places including Leeds, Manchester and the fashionable Shoreditch in London, which will add to the city’s burgeoning burger culture but add something new.

With barbecue dishes including pulled pork, beef brisket, spare ribs, swine fries and buffalo wings, the restaurants have a tongue-in-cheek evangelical theme, with staff cast
as ‘believers’, and a slogan ‘Let there be meat’.