Glasgow City Council & Barclays
Improving the accessibility of the public realm to support staff and visitors travelling to and from a new Barclays site and business district in Glasgow.
Services Provided
Project Brief
Motionspot was appointed as access designers for Barclays’ new 500,000 sq. ft. campus in Glasgow, collaborating with Gensler, Barclays, and Glasgow City Council to enhance the accessibility of surrounding public realm routes.
Our role focused on extending inclusive design beyond the building envelope, ensuring seamless journeys from home to workplace for 5,000 employees and visitors. We addressed physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers in urban navigation, public transport, and safety while aligning with Barclays’ commitment to world-leading inclusive environments.
“We’re building our new campus from the ground up so it’s a great opportunity for us to think differently about inclusive design from the start. It has been a delight to work with a business partner that shares the same values of inclusivity as Barclays. Being involved in the early stages of the renovation opened exciting opportunities to push the boundaries of what was possible”.
Kathryn Townsend, Former Head of Customer and Client Accessibility at Barclays UK
Project Scope
Motionspot delivered a comprehensive access audit and design guidance to transform the public realm into a supportive transition space between home and work, enabling Glasgow City Council to implement targeted upgrades.
Access Audit & Route Analysis:
- Conducted walking surveys at various times of day and night with Glasgow City Council, assessing key pedestrian, wheelchair, and public transport routes for barriers related to sensory overload, navigation, safety, and comfort.
Insight & Recommendations:
- Provided actionable findings in a detailed report, identifying rest points, quiet routes, and protective refuges to support sensory regulation and reduce overwhelm for neurodivergent and sensory-sensitive users.
- Recommended distinctive, attractive landmarks in the landscape to aid orientation for people with visual or cognitive impairments, with principles extended into the campus interior.
- Reviewed and enhanced outdoor areas of the Barclays site to function as calming transition zones, offering opportunities to recalibrate before entering the workplace.
Project Impact
Motionspot’s early intervention established the Barclays Glasgow campus as a benchmark for holistic workplace accessibility, proving that inclusive public realm design is integral to an equitable employee experience. The collaboration empowered Glasgow City Council to invest over £1.5m to upgrade urban infrastructure while setting a replicable model for Barclays’ global portfolio. By addressing journey-wide barriers, the project enhances safety, reduces stress, and supports productivity and wellbeing for all users. It demonstrates that true inclusivity begins long before arrival at the door.
“The collaboration between the Barclays design team and Motionspot has created an inclusive workplace that goes beyond standard access guidance. The Glasgow development has paved the way for future Barclays developments, encouraging them to achieve world leading accessible design standards and create spaces that are truly inclusive for all. It took time to get Motionspot involved in the project but I couldn't imagine proceeding with any part of the design without them.”
Ron Coghill, Former Director, Major Projects Delivery Lead, Barclays
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