Building Briefs - April 5th

Big grant to pay for restoration work on steeple

Falkirk’s historic steeple will be refurbished after it received a £748,000 grant.

The 14ft landmark has dominated the Falkirk skyline for more than 200 years, and even lends its image to the town’s football club badge.

Specialist work over 39 weeks will include repairs to stonework and renovation of clock faces and bells as well as restorative work on two original prison cells located in the building.

Edinburgh Council sells Atria office development in £105m deal

The City of Edinburgh Council has today announced the sale of Atria, its award winning Grade A office development, to Deka Immobilien, a global real estate investment company based in Germany, for £105m.

The office development, located at the heart of Edinburgh’s financial district, attracted a significant amount of interest when it was put up for sale in October 2015.

Councillor Gavin Barrie, Edinburgh’s economy convener, said: “I’m delighted that we have concluded the sale of Atria. This is a further endorsement of the Council’s decision to create an innovative funding package to develop much needed Grade A office space in the city to attract new, and retain existing, businesses in the Capital while also cross-subsidising the cost of an expansion to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC).

Bearsden’s Kilmardinny House revamp receives final go-ahead

Hub West Scotland has received the final go-ahead to press forward with the refurbishment and extension of Bearsden’s Kilmardinny House.

The A-listed arts centre will be overhauled by Mast Architects, Clark Contracts and East Dunbartonshire Council to better function as an arts, culture and leisure hub.

Costing £2.58m the overhaul will allow the venue to host weddings, performances, exhibitions and conferences centred on a new garden pavilion providing flexible floor space.

This dovetails with plans to create a £3m community hub on Drymen Road following a reconfiguration of the existing Burgh Hall.

£50k up for grabs as CIOB opens ideas fund for construction research

Original ideas are being backed by the Chartered Institute of Building Bowen Jenkins Legacy Research Fund to support practitioners and researchers in construction.

Now in its second year the Fund is targeting five areas of research:-Sustainability in the Built Environment, Corporate Social Responsibility,Building Performance Improvement, Application of Digital Technologies and Employment Practices in construction.

Saleem Akram CIOB director said: “There were more than 50 applications last year from 12 countries and we are convinced that many more untapped ideas exist out there in the industry. All they need is help getting off the ground and that is where we can offer support. The challenges facing construction are many and while the future may seem uncertain what we know is the industry is packed with innovative techniques, technology and people.”

Applications are open to CIOB members and non-members internationally. Funding is accessible for individuals, companies or in support of larger research projects within other organisations. The CIOB is offering between £2,000 - £10,000 for each research project and over a duration of 1 to 2 years.

The Fund is a bequest from Mr. Bowen Jenkins FCIOB who was a Fellow and an active supporter of the CIOB. In the 1950’s he took over his father’s construction business in Hampshire, UK and later became Governor at the old Southampton Technical College, now known as Southampton Solent University. The Fund is one of the CIOB’s largest donated financial legacies.

The Fund is open for entry until 15 July 2016. Details about how to enter and further information is available at http://www.ciob.org/scholarships/bowen-jenkins-legacy-research-fund.

Argyll and Bute Council’s Rothesay Pavilion regeneration project moving forward

Argyll and Bute Council’s exciting but challenging project to bring Rothesay Pavilion back to life took a step forward last week as a £500,000 initial works contract was awarded to local company John Brown (Strone) Ltd.

Argyll and Bute Council’s Executive Director for Development and Infrastructure, Pippa Milne, said: “This is another key stage in our project to restore the pavilion to its former glory. We are very pleased to have awarded the contract, at a fair price, to an Argyll company with such a strong track record. Big construction contracts like this have a number of benefits to the local economy, such as local tradesmen having the opportunity to sub-contract and hotels and B&Bs providing accommodation for workers.

Refurbished Melrose play-park opens for Easter holidays

Improvements to a Melrose play-park have been completed in time for the Easter holidays.

The £76,000 refurbishment of Gibson Park play area was finished last week, allowing local children to try out the new facility during the school break.

The new equipment caters for children aged two to 14, and includes a Borders Railway theme and improved bark safety surfacing.

The play area was funded through a variety of sources including Scottish Borders Council’s play parks budget (£33,000), Quality of Life funding allocated to Melrose (£2,638), William Hill Fund (£24,700), Melrose Pay Parking funding (£14,500) and the Curle Bequest (£1,200).