Aberdeen Science and Energy Park

Aberdeen Offshore Technology Park was developed by Scottish Enterprise in 1989 in conjunction with Aberdeen City Council to become a centre for the development of new technologies used in the oil and gas industries. In 2005 it was recognised that that the image of the Park was not sufficient to classify it as a world class business location.

Landscape enhancements at the business park were considered a crucial element in Scottish Enterprise's ambitious aspiration to develop and achieve an iconic, premium quality business location with a quality of image and infrastructure capable of attracting and retaining new research and technology investment and talent in the region. As part of the expansion of the park a "blueprint" was developed for the rejuvenation of the existing landscape. Scottish Enterprise appointed TGP Landscape Architects to take forward one of the key elements of the approved 'blueprint': the Park Gateway, a contemporary high profile entrance that re-brands the Science and Energy Park combined with a new innovative public space marking the principal gateway to the park.

The plaza provides a sense of arrival and place that was lacking in the business park, with high quality hard and soft landscape materials, water features, furniture, contemporary lighting and signage. The spiral design of the plaza was inspired by the immediate proximity of the site to the coastline of the North Sea. Paving, seating and furniture items have been created from natural stone due to its appearance, robustness, durability and long life cycle. The terraced lawn sculpture offers informal seating as well as a frame bounding the back of the plaza, with bespoke furniture designed to fit with the plaza's spiral design. Water is introduced as a visual and sensory dimension into the open space in form of a semi-circular/ tapered arch. The physical and sub-conscious qualities of water - its movement, sounds, reflections and refractions - provide additional interest to the users of the plaza.

Consultation of the local business and adjacent residential community in the Bridge of Don area was carried out at early stages of the project to explain impacts of the development as well as the positive contribution of the development proposal to their lives. The use of the Park by the local community was emphasised. Additional work carried out included a network of footpaths through the existing woodlands, woodland management to ensure the long term sustainability to the planting, and new open space areas for all to use,

Accolades from businesses on the Park have indicated the success of the project and also been a catalyst for ongoing inward investment