Voco Grand Central Glasgow

First designed as a British Railway hotel in the late nineteenth century, this prestigious building – once host to Winston Churchill and Frank Sinatra – sits at the heart of Glasgow city centre.

Acquired by IHG in 2019, its transformation required careful planning and phasing; the building age, Category A listed status, and proximity to Glasgow Central Station posed significant challenges.

Our hidden solution – a corridor ceiling raft – enables modern services to be installed without compromising heritage features. Our sensitive approach preserved the ornate interiors while meeting contemporary hospitality standards. We’re proud to ensure this characterful hotel remains a celebrated part of Glasgow’s architectural and cultural identity for many years to come.

We approached this historic retrofit project with care and creativity – preserving the building’s historic fabric while upgrading its performance. Our corridor ceiling raft solution allowed modern services to be integrated without damaging listed features, extending the building’s lifespan and reducing waste.

Our design choices supported long-term energy efficiency and operational resilience. We drew on our heritage expertise and collaborative R&D to balance conservation with contemporary hospitality needs.

This hotel refurbishment demonstrates how thoughtful retrofit can deliver meaningful environmental outcomes, aligning with our commitment to sustainable design and helping our client meet their environmental, social and governance goals.