Building Briefs – May 26th

Work has started on a new £65 million hospital and healthcare development in Orkney.

Robertson is delivering the new two-storey facility on behalf of NHS Orkney. Completion is scheduled for May 2019.

Designed by Keppie Design, the 16,248 sq m building will house a range of emergency, outpatient, day case and inpatient services supported by high dependency, diagnostic and theatre facilities.

In addition, Skerryvore and Heilendi GP practices and NHS Orkney’s dental practice will be relocated within the new facility, while all clinical areas will have videoconferencing facilities.

Other features include multi-functional conference rooms, a restaurant, seating areas, shop, therapy garden and a children’s play area. There will also be 320 car parking spaces on the new site, which will also include 10 electric car charging points, accessible parking and cycle shelters.

Temporary works at Dundee V&A recognised at national awards

The V&A at Dundee has been nominated for an award for the groundbreaking methods used in its construction.

The £80.1 million museum is in the running for the Temporary Works Award in this year’s British Construction Industry Awards.

It has received its nomination for the temporary propping system used to hold up the building during the early stages of construction.

The awards, which have been running for 30 years, celebrated excellent in the design, construction and delivery of new buildings.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on October 11.

Caledonia Contracts completes Great Western Road Starbucks fit out

Dundee based interior fit out contractor Caledonia Contracts Ltd has completed the second equity store drive-thru in Scotland for coffee giants Starbucks, in Glasgow’s Great Western Road.

Opening for business this week, the project follows the first Scottish equity store in Altens Aberdeen, earlier this year and the first ever ‘franchised’ drive-thru, carried out previously in Linwood, for franchisee OCO Westend.

Caledonia Contracts has worked successfully with Starbucks for over 13 years, completing over 100 projects throughout Scotland.

David Johnston, commercial director of Caledonia, said: “Starbucks are set to expand throughout the UK with further drive thrus as well as continuing to refresh their established outlets, which in turn means potential growth for Caledonia Contracts, as we continue to partner Starbucks throughout their expansion programme. Additional drive-thru stores across Scotland, also increases employment in these areas.”

Savills makes retail hire in Scotland

International real estate advisor Savills has bolstered its retail agency team in Scotland with the appointment of Victoria Freed who joins as a surveyor in the firm’s Glasgow office on June 19.

Victoria has six years experience in the property industry, most recently working with JLL in the property management department specialising in shopping centre services. Prior to JLL, Victoria worked at Glasgow City Council and Castlemilk Property Company Ltd.

At Savills Victoria will be advising on the leasing of shopping centres and high street properties, and acquisitions on behalf of retailers and leisure operators.

Surface dressing works begin on Isle Of Harris

A road maintenance project is underway on the Isle of Harris.

Surface dressing works have started on the A859 between Tarbert and Scarista. The project is estimated to take three to four days to complete.

Scoping report submitted for 72-turbine Inch Cape wind farm

Revised plans have been submitted for a new 72-turbine wind farm off the coast of Angus.

Inch Cape Offshore Limited (ICOL) has handed a Scoping Report for the revised scheme to Scottish Ministers.

The new design would reduce the number of turbines to 72, of up to a height of 301 metres. In addition, the number of offshore export cables have been reduced from six to two.

ICOL said the changes aim to minimise predicted environmental impacts whilst ensuring that the project continues to make a significant contribution to renewable energy targets and addressing climate change.

The submission of the Scoping Report requests the scoping opinion from Ministers on what information should be included and assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Following relevant approvals, a new application is expected to be submitted later this year.

Perth Crematorium to be refurbished

Services at Perth Crematorium will be reduced and public access restricted as it undergoes a complete refurbishment until early 2018.

The refurbishment will replace obsolete electrical and heating systems, replace the cremators and install equipment needed to meet air quality standards. The chapel and family room will be redecorated and upgraded and a new office and reception area and toilet facilities added.

Springfield staff jump for juniors at Aberlour Charity

Brave Springfield Properties employees more than £1,000 by facing their fears and abseiling a terrifying 165ft off the Forth Rail Bridge for Aberlour Children’s Trust last weekend.

Marketing assistants, Megan Scotland and Dale Ashelford took the leap with newly appointed choices supervisor Jenni Hughes and volunteered to represent the house building company for the 165ft drop.

Springfield teamed up with Aberlour Children’s Trust at the start of the year and staff in Larbert have been supporting the charity with monthly fundraisers like bake sales and dress down days and have raised just shy of £1,500.

For the abseil alone, the Springfield team have raised an impressive £1,155 – smashing their £700 target and helping children all over Scotland.