The St. Enoch Centre is an enclosed shopping mall in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. The centre is located adjacent to St Enoch Square. Designed by GMW Architects and Reiach and Hall Architects, construction began in 1986 by Sir Robert McAlpine, and the mall was opened to the public on 25 May 1989.

Located on the site of the former St Enoch Station, the building is just off Glasgow's famous shopping thoroughfare, Argyle Street and overlooks the historic St. Enoch Square and the original subway station building. The present St Enoch subway station is accessible by escalators.

Whilst the target of many architectural critics, the building is notable for its massive glass roof, which makes it the largest glass-covered enclosed area in Europe. Not only does this substantially reduce heating and lighting loads – the mall area is lit entirely by natural daylight in summer, whilst the solar heat generated by the roof means that mechanical heating is only required for a week on average per year – it also earned the building its affectionate nickname "The Glasgow Greenhouse". The roof's steel framework was fabricated by the shipbuilders Scott Lithgow.

The glass roofed element surrounds a seven-storey car park, and when originally opened, an ice rink. and the Argyle Street entrance - built in 2000 - was demolished for a second time to make way for a new facade, resulting in the closure of the TK Maxx store. In line with the extensions, the original 1980s floor tiling was replaced and the escalators at both ends of the main mall were moved to different locations and renewed.

Hamleys, G-Star RAW, H&M, Schuh Kids and Starbucks are some of the few new retail units as part of the refurbishment. Initially, the shopping centre is aiming to tender to a more upmarket niche to compete well with the high street and rival mall Buchanan Galleries. The Tesco Metro store formerly on Argyle Street relocated to the lower ground level of the extension, whilst the TK Maxx store that was displaced from the mall relocated to the vacant Tesco site.

St Enoch's Square was also redeveloped to created an enhanced public realm. The units facing the square are now occupied by food outlets, helping to establish it as a vibrant civic hub and making it easier for people to enjoy and use the area.

In 2010, Debenhams renovated its department store as part of the centre’s wider development, which included the addition of a restaurant. The store has since closed.

2016 onwards

In 2016, it was confirmed that the former BHS store site would be redeveloped to introduce a multiscreen cinema, alongside new restaurants and retail stores.

Demolition

On 30 May 2023, Glasgow City Council approved plans to demolish the St Enoch Centre. It will be replaced by a mixed-use development featuring shops, offices, restaurants, and homes. The project will reintroduce streets into the area, including a newly created St Enoch Street to the south and an extended Maxwell Street to the east. Demolition will be carried out in phases over 15 to 20 years, allowing many retailers, restaurants, and leisure operators to remain open during the transition.

References

  • Official web site
  • St Enoch Centre project details - Clyde Waterfront Regeneration