Autumn Newsletter 2010
November 2010
Well as the nights are drawing in it is clear that 2010 has not been the year of recovery that had been hoped by many in the construction sector. However we have been successful in that we have not had to follow the route others were forced into of making staff redundant. We have a great team here and the loss of any one of them would have been a blow. In fact as a sign of our confidence we have invested in the future by employing a Senior Engineer in Glasgow, and two new graduates and a Senior Technician in Edinburgh, and by upgrading our draughting system to include Revit Structures allowing full 3D modelling of projects. Comfortingly we have had an increase in the number of projects bid for and an increase in the total number of projects won. The last couple of months have shown an increase in enquiries and bids and we are looking to 2011 to be the financially secure year we had hoped 2010 would be.
What is clear is that we are increasing our Client base of Architects who appreciate that whereas we may not always be the cheapest in terms of fee – we do deliver an excellent service and provide a structural solution that often saves the Clients much more money than our fees. It is a matter of overall value for money and that is where our committed team of experienced and interested engineers and technicians can assist the design team to create an economical and successful conclusion to all our projects.
We have had a number of successes over the summer with Malcolm Fraser Architects houses in the Highland Housing Fair winning People’s Favourite, the Wallace Monument Visitor Centre by Lee Boyd Architects wining a Gold at the Roses Awards and House on the Hill by Paterson Architects being short listed for the Andrew Doolan Award 2010.
Office Study Trip
The office recently went on a day's study trip to visit projects in the central belt and West. Dominic Echlin, Robbie Templeton and Mark Hepburn worked with Lorn Macneal Architects on the conversion of Ardoch Farm for the charity Columba 1400. www.ardoch-scotland.com Ardoch is a traditional homestead with a large contemporary addition. Situated in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park with wonderful views, the building will be used for conferences, residential retreats and self-catering breaks.
We also visited other current and past DNA projects including Lawlor House, a contemporary house, near completion in Glasgow, the Stirling Tolbooth, the Cowan's Hospital in Stirling, the award winning Wallace Monument Visitor's Centre and Logie Old Kirk.
Bracklin Falls Footbridge
Stephen Farrar has collaborated with Strong Bridges to design a footbridge over the Bracklin Falls for the Callander Community Development Trust. The 20-tonne bridge spans 20m across the very deep gorge. The bridge had to be hauled into place by hand because its remote location made it impossible to use large machinery. Floods washed away the original steel bridge in August 2004. The new bridge is constructed from home grown Douglas Fir and larch with a trussed timber arch combined with steel tensile elements. It is capped by a copper roof. The bridge is officially due to be opened in November and will provide spectacular views of the falls.
The Shetland Islands
The main laird's house on Fetlar, Brough Lodge, is our most northerly project. The house has been uninhabited since the 1970s, but there are plans for it to be renovated in the near future by the Brough Lodge Trust . Dominic Echlin is working with Groves-Raines Architects on an initial package of repairs to make the building wind and weather tight and fix the main structural problems.
We have just started work on another major project in Shetland, a new care home at Mid Yell for Shetland Islands Council. This will replace the existing Isleshavn Care Home and will provide much need additional care facilities for the elderly and other adults on Yell, so they can be supported and looked in their home community rather than have to move away to care homes in Lerwick or even the Scottish mainland. This exciting development adds to our half dozen and more projects in the Sheltand Islands ranging from Feltar in the far north to Sumburgh Head at the southern tip.
Highland Housing Fair
The Scotland's Housing Expo took place in Inverness during August. Steve Wood worked on the design of two of the houses with Malcolm Fraser Architects. Both the houses have highly insulated 'breathing' envelopes using materials that can be recycled or from natural sustainable sources. www.scotlandshousingexpo.com
New Staff
We are pleased to announce that Ian Downie has joined our Glasgow office as a Senior Project Engineer. Ian has 8 years experience in the design of a variety of building structures. He is a chartered engineer and a full member of the Institution of Structural Engineers. He was the lead engineer for Marischal College, which involved the redevelopment of a Grade A listed granite façade building for Aberdeen City Council. Most recently Ian was working with Anthony Gormley and the National Galleries of Scotland on the 6 Times sculptures in Edinburgh.
Hamish Cullens and Yvonne Wilkie have joined our Edinburgh office as graduate engineers. Both graduated from the University of Edinburgh with First Class Degrees in Engineering. We are delighted that they have joined the Practice along with Kevin McLellan who has also joined us as a Senior Technican in Edinburgh. Hamish has been nominated to receive the IStructE Scottish Branch award for 'the most deserving student in structural design'.
Practice News
The Practice had another interesting site visit to the Royal Museum at the end of September, where the works on coming on well. Ben Adam and Colin Eastwood showed us around the building. It is due to reopen to the public next Summer.
We were delighted to welcome so many friends, clients and colleagues to our annual Autumn drinks party in September. Thank you to those who attended and made it such a memorable night.
Awards
The Practice is delighted that The Wallace Monument Visitor's Centre with Lee Boyd Architects has won a Gold Rose Design Award 2010 and that House on a Hill with Paterson Architects has just been nominated for the Andrew Doolan Prize.
And Finally
Engineer loses his head on a site visit!
