Bridge View, on the junction of North Esplanade West and Market Street in Aberdeen, has come a long way since its inception as a tram shed in 1904 when it was built at a cost of £3026 14s  9d. The tram shed, now one of Aberdeen’s historical landmarks, is a listed building, a factor which had to be given key consideration when plans for its redevelopment as part of a larger office complex were formulated almost a century later by the Aberdeen-based development company, Cromdale Limited.  The original granite facade of the tram shed was retained and incorporated into the new design, whilst the interior was redeveloped to form part of the prestigious 80,000 sq.ft. office development which officially opened in 1999 as Bridge View.

Following the purchase of the building by Ulster Estates Limited in September 2004, the new owners wanted to create an identity for the building both to help raise the profile of the building itself and benefit the existing tenants – Petrofac Facilities Management and NHS National Services Scotland. Bridge View is managed on behalf of Ulster Estates Limited by Facilities Management (Aberdeen) Limited.

Fifth Ring Integrated Corporate Communications was therefore appointed to create this identity and a powerful and memorable new iconic image for the building evolved. The initial inspiration for the design was the arch of the Torry Bridge, which the building overlooks.  The shape of the new icon, like the bridge itself, resembles the eye, which gives vision and stimulates all our other senses.   It also mirrors the curved rooflines of Bridge View, while the colours suggest the reflective quality of the River Dee. The new identity, along with the refurbishment of the internal common areas, was launched in September 2005.