Exchange Plaza
Client
Project overview
BB7 was appointed by the client to provide Façade Access consultancy services for Exchange Plaza, a seven-storey Grade A commercial office building in the heart of Edinburgh. Originally completed in 1997 and refurbished in 2021, the building is undergoing a further major refurbishment under new ownership.
Our scope of works centred on assessing the building’s ageing Suspended Access Equipment (SAE) and developing a façade access strategy to support the replacement and long-term maintenance of the existing atrium roof glazing.
The BB7 response
The project presented several technical challenges, with the existing SAE having reached approximately 26 years of service and, following a prolonged period without specialist maintenance, no longer considered fit for purpose. The absence of maintenance records and inspection history meant a comprehensive condition assessment was required to establish a technical baseline before refurbishment, replacement or removal options could be reliably evaluated.
To address these challenges, BB7 undertook a detailed non-intrusive condition survey of the existing façade access systems before developing a series of evidence-led façade access options. Each option was assessed against health and safety, logistics, buildability, programme implications and long-term operational performance, enabling the client to make informed decisions based on engineering evidence rather than assumptions.
Alongside the façade access assessment, BB7 developed the strategy for replacing the atrium skylight, ensuring future cleaning, inspection, maintenance, AOV servicing and glazing replacement requirements were fully considered. The strategy also informed the design of the new skylight by considering its fragility classification, impact performance requirements and long-term maintainability from the earliest design stages.
Following selection of the preferred solution, BB7 continues to support the project through procurement by preparing the Employer’s Requirements (Performance Specification), providing technical tender reviews and monitoring the specialist contractor throughout detailed design development and installation.
Benefits of Service
By establishing a robust technical baseline before recommending a preferred solution, BB7 enabled the client to make informed investment decisions based on engineering evidence while reducing technical uncertainty and programme risk.
Our coordinated approach considered both the immediate requirements of the atrium glazing replacement and the building’s long-term operational needs. Through independent technical advice, detailed optioneering and continued support into procurement, we are supporting the client’s transition from ageing, decommissioned façade access systems to a safe, compliant and maintainable solution.
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