Scotland

Site of former Burgh Primary School will soon be open for business

SME Business HubThe transformation of a listed Victorian school building into an SLC Managed Business Centre is underway in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire. Clark Contracts are the main contractors and McLennan Partnership the architects for the £1.3 million project, which is expected to be complete in March 2012.

When complete, the new Burgh Business Centre is intended to be part of an integrated network of SLC Managed Business Centres within South Lanarkshire. The network consists of six existing centres and supports SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in the area, particularly start up companies and indigenous small businesses that are seeking to expand and develop.

The substantial three-storey sandstone building was built in the late 1800s and has been designated a ‘Grade B’ listed building by Historic Scotland due to its specific architectural merit. As a result, the major requirement for the conversion of the former school was that it must be sympathetic to both the external and internal fabric. In addition, the building is within a designated conservation area; subsequently restrictions were imposed regarding which alterations and improvements could be made to windows and doors.

The complexities of restoring and adapting a listed building has led to South Lanarkshire Council and McLennan Partnership to look at innovative ways of ensuring the insulation and energy efficiency of the building is improved without compromising the requirements of the building’s listed status.

The former is to be fully refurbished internally and the existing period features are to be retained and restored. All internal mechanical and electrical services are being replaced and the building thermally upgraded to ensure that it is energy efficient.  Furthermore, the new Burgh Business Centre will be DDA compliant with the installation of accessible toilets and a glazed lift.

The current contract is the culmination of several years of refurbishment works carried out on the property. Previous phases of the project have included the replacement of the existing roof, the renewal of the atrium roof glazing, stone repairs and the complete refurbishment of the timber sash and casement windows. In addition, a recent flat roofed extension was added to the south elevation of the school.

Along with the refurbishment of the building, minor landscaping works will be carried out and the existing boundary walls and wrought iron railings and gates will be refurbished.

Financial support for the project has been received from ERDF and Scottish Government VDLF.

Scotcourt Ltd

SCOTCOURT LTD are please to have acted as principal contractor in carrying out all the external envelope works to this project, This included all necessary masonry replacement with matching locharbriggs sandstone , 100% re pointing using traditional lime mortars, stone redressing and re profiling to match existing original details. Other works included restoration and replacement of traditional sash and case windows, re glazing, window Mastic, re decoration, replacement of old galvanized window grilles with approved black stainless steel grilles and substantial roof lead works.

SCOTCOURT managing director Steve Wozencroft said: “Rarely is a building such as this subject to such an imaginative conservation/restoration project, it will benefit the local community for years to come and South Lanarkshire Council together with the project architects McClellan partnership should be commended for their commitment to the project”

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