Building Briefs - May 12th

• Oakburn Early Years Centre opens in Milngavie

The new building is one of three new Early Years Centres planned for East Dunbartonshire as part of the council’s commitment to deliver on the Scottish Government’s requirement for additional hours of early learning and childcare.

From August, all three and four-year-olds, as well as eligible two-year-olds in Scotland, will receive 1140 hours of early learning and childcare each year, almost doubling the original allocation of 600 hours.

Oakburn Early Years Centre offers 101 places for 2-5 year-olds and boasts a range of wonderful facilities, including fully equipped playrooms with the latest digital technology, an internal courtyard space for indoor and outdoor play, a mezzanine level with access to a chute to the lower floor, and a large garden space. All aspects of this new build will create a stimulating play experience for children.

The centres are being delivered for the council through its delivery partner hub West Scotland. The architects are Holmes Miller and Robertson Construction is the main contractor.

• Historic Glasgow landmark turned into wedding venue

A historic Glasgow landmark has been transformed into a venue for weddings, civil partnerships and celebrations.

The North Rotunda is situated on the banks of the River Clyde overlooking the Finnieston Crane.

Following extensive refurbishment, the property, which dates back to 1890, will now be able to accommodate up to 140 seated guests.

The Finnieston function room features a circular space on the second floor can accommodate up to 240 guests.

On the third floor guests can enjoy ‘the dome’, which offers views of the Finnieston room.

• Midlothian communities to be consulted about schools

Plans are underway to consult with local people and communities about two new primary schools and a replacement for Mayfield School Campus.

Consultations are due to take place in the 2021/22 school year on a new primary school in Easthouses, on the former site of Newbattle High School, a new primary school on the housing development site known as Hopefield Farm 2 (Hs12) in Bonnyrigg and a replacement of the Mayfield School Campus at its current location, with the proposed addition of special needs provision.

• Bronze statue to celebrate Aberdeen roots of footballing legend Denis Law approved

A statue celebrating Aberdeen footballing legend Denis Law is to be sited in a prominent place in the city centre.

Aberdeen City Council’s city growth and resources committee members agreed it would set back from Broad Street beside Marischal Square and facing the Robert the Bruce statue.

The site was preferred by both the artist and the Denis Law Legacy Trust as it involves a narrative around the two statues facing each other and sharing the same sculptor, materials and plinths.

The artist who created the bronze statue of Denis Law is Alan B Herriot who is a figurative sculptor of international reputation and has worked for the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland. He was also commissioned by Aberdeen City Council to create the statue of King Robert the Bruce sited outside Marischal College.

The bronze statue is entitled ‘Legend’, which is already build and is currently in storage in Aberdeen, shows the former footballing great with his right arm raised.

The estimated costs of siting the bronze Denis Law statue near Provost Skene’s House are anticipated to be up to £25,000. These costs cover the transport, installation, a bronze plate for the statue and a plinth with an inscription, and the committee agreed to ask the Trust to cover some of these installation costs. The City Council would inherit the ownership of the statue and would be responsible for ongoing maintenance costs.

The location for the statue would require the existing installed sculpture to be moved to a suitable location.

The committee also agreed for officers to investigate more details about the Trust’s proposed Printfield 10 Project to include public artworks in the Printfield area of Denis Law.