WALKING through George Square you'd never know that just a few metres away one of Glasgow's most ambitious architectural transformations is taking place.

But as our pictures show the 127-year-old former GPO building, which lay derelict for more than a decade, is being turned into one of the UK's most prestigious office complexes.

By this time next year the enormous 127,000sq ft G1 complex will be near completion.

Site owners HF Developments hope by then the nine-storey building - crowned with a striking glass roof - will be the city's latest architectural masterpiece.

And although there's plenty of work to be done a peak behind the scenes reveals the progress made in the last six months.

Two 8-ton cranes tower over the entire development, 60m above the giant pipes that form a temporary support structure for the building.

Workmen say the huge central lift shaft that protrudes from the ground in the middle of the site is growing taller by the day.

In a few weeks the huge steel structure that will support the building will be erected, in preparation for the final push.

At the same time the beautiful Victorian stonework that forms the facade of the building will require pains-taking care.

Every one of the balustrades that run along the top of the building will have to be removed, cleaned, stored and re-aligned before the roof goes on.

But, according to HF, all the hard work will be worthwhile.

They hope to attract some of the country's most prestigious businesses to the building.

Spokeswoman Alison Fitch said: "This is such an exciting project and it is wonderful to see the progress being made.

"We look forward to seeing the GPO finally completed next year.

"We are confident it will return to its former position as one of Glasgow's landmark buildings."

Previous attempts to develop the building, such as converting it into a Scottish National Gallery, a hotel, health club, shops and bars, all fell through.

Stefan King, head of leisure firm G1 Group, bought it in 1999 for £5million to turn it into a hotel.

But that never happened and pressure mounted for him to sell it to another developer.

AWG Property and HF Developments bought the A-listed building for £11.75m in 2005. Construction is expected to cost £30-£35m with the final cost estimated at £70m.

Changing faces of the GPO
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