With fewer than 1,000 days to go until the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games its organisers have paid tribute to the part RSBi workers played in the construction of their new headquarters.

RSBi is operated by City Building (Glasgow) LLP which was the main contractor in the refurbishment of the building.

Commonwealth House – formerly the Tontine Building in Glasgow’s Merchant City – is the new home of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee.

The refurbished 108,000 sq ft building – which dates back to 1781 when it was constructed by William Hamilton – will provide accommodation for up to 1000 staff at Games-time and forms a key part of the Glasgow 2014 legacy.

In order to meet some of the people involved in the construction of furniture for Commonwealth House, Glasgow 2014 Chairman Lord Smith and Chief Executive David Grevemberg toured Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) in Springburn. RSBi is operated by City Building, Glasgow City Council’s arm’s-length construction firm, the main contractor for the refurbishment.


Lord Smith said he was inspired by his meeting with some of the workers at RSBi, which provides employment for people with disabilities and ex-servicemen. He said: “We are delighted to call Commonwealth House our new home, it’s been a privilege to be here today and to meet some truly inspirational people.

“Through City Building and its social enterprise company, Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries, the new headquarters has created employment opportunities for young men and women, some who were injured while serving in the Army.

“After this humbling visit, it’s a real honour to meet everyone involved in the project and thank them personally for the wonderful work carried out at Commonwealth House.”

John Foley, who takes up the post of City Building managing director on 1 December, said: “It is a major boost to all our staff to welcome Lord Smith and David Grevemberg to RSBi. They were keen to meet face-to-face with some of our workers who have played a part in the construction of Commonwealth House, which is a landmark building for Glasgow in every sense.

“City Building is proud to be playing a major part in leaving a Games Legacy for Glasgow in the form of high-quality, high-profile office space in a tremendous location.”

All furniture for the new building has been made and supplied by RSBi, which employs more than 240 people, more than 50 per cent of whom have a disability.

Commonwealth House sits on the north west corner of Glasgow Cross, and is one of the most important buildings – in terms of architectural quality, scale and location – in the Merchant City. The building is listed.

RSBi has had a presence in Glasgow for more than 200 years. The business has continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of the marketplace and currently specialises in manufacturing a wide range of products for a broad customer base across the public, private and third sectors. It works closely with a range of organisations including Glasgow’s Helping Heroes, and employs a number of disabled ex-servicemen at its facility in Glasgow.

(GK)