At Taylor and Fraser, the successful completion of any project is accompanied by a high level of satisfaction. However, every now and then, a project comes along that provides a greater feeling of contentment and a degree of pride; witnessing the opening of The Nook in Brunswick House is undoubtedly one of these projects.
Not only are we pleased with the end result, but we are also excited that the building will be put to use as the first of a national network of walk-in mental health hubs, providing immediate support to tens of thousands of people experiencing mental health issues.
Taylor and Fraser worked collaboratively with the SAMH and the wider team, which included the interior designer, and ‘Scotland’s Home of the Year’ host, Anna Campbell-Jones, to deliver a wonderful environment, incorporating recycled materials such as the recycled gym floor that has become a stunning feature wall.
The Nook provides barrier-free access to mental health support, with no need to book an appointment, no referrals required, and no waiting lists. Anyone looking for help can walk through the door whenever they need to, seven days a week.
The Nook in Glasgow will be followed by Nooks in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Inverclyde, and Lanarkshire over the next three years. The national network of hubs is SAMH’s response to Scotland’s mental health crisis.
Each Nook will be accompanied by an extensive outreach programme, which will extend support to surrounding communities, helping even more people to access support.
Speaking about the completion of the project, Angus MacInnes, Construction Director at Taylor and Fraser, said, “This was a very rewarding project to work on. Not only because of the fantastic client and team involved, but more so because of the intended use of the building and the important services it will deliver on a daily basis.
“Nowadays, almost everyone knows somebody affected by mental health challenges, so The Nook and other services provided by SAMH are vital to the community. It’s pleasing to be able to help deliver a building that is so well-designed to meet its purpose.”
Jude Deacons, Senior Programme Manager at SAMH, said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to site manager, Dave Findlay and the team at Taylor and Fraser for helping us to transform the bottom floors of Brunswick House into The Nook. We hope that everyone who visits will feel safe, welcomed and supported by the space we have created together.”
The Nook is rightly located in the city centre, where there is a high demand for services and where it is easily accessible; however, working on major redevelopment projects in city centres does present challenges. In addition, the upper four floors of Brunswick House had to remain in operation during the works. Taylor and Fraser are experienced in working in such environments; we understand what needs to be taken into consideration and the potential problems that may arise.
Seeing the finished project come into operation is particularly pleasing. We wish SAMH every success with The Nook; the service it is now providing to the people of Glasgow is vital and greatly appreciated.
