Fourth year BSc (Hons) students were set the challenge of redeveloping the 1960s carbuncle site as part of their final year project.

The site was purchased by Highland Council for redevelopment last year.

The university’s BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology programme is focussed on ‘live’ projects and enjoys close links with industry, with city architects invited to attend the open evening to view student work and give feedback.

In addition to the designs for Upper Bridge Street, the students showcased their own plans for new sports facilities at Inverness Leisure as well as Prickly Thistle’s Black House Mill. The students’ designs for the mill are currently going through the final stages of the council planning permission process.

As part of their research, the architectural technology students held a charrette at Inverness College UHI attended by Highland Council planners and representatives from Inverness Business Improvement District (BID) and Inverness Civic Trust, as well as architects’ Maxwell and Co, 360 Architecture, MAAC Studio Architects, HRI Munro Architects, GH Johnston Building Consultants, Helica Scotland Project Managers and Kerr AT Architects. They also held an exhibition at the Eastgate Shopping Centre to gauge public views.