We are part of the design team selected to deliver the new £63.5m Knockroon Learning and Enterprise Campus.
We are delighted to be part of the team who successfully bid to be the design team for the ambitious state-of-the-art Knockroon Learning and Enterprise Campus for East Ayrshire Council. Robert Potter and Partners are engaged by team leader Sheppard Robson as heritage consultants, and we bring local knowledge to the winning team.
The appointment is an important milestone in this £63.5m project and it follows an extensive procurement exercise undertaken by East Ayrshire Council in partnership with the Royal Incorporation of Architects Scotland (RIAS).
No fewer than 26 companies submitted an expression of interest to undertake the work of designing the new school. Five companies were shortlisted and invited to present their strategy to deliver the project.
The procurement process itself was a departure from the norm, allowing local stakeholders to watch the process and give their impressions of what they had seen. This approach received positive feedback – even from an unsuccessful design team who wrote to say that it was, “a masterclass in professional procurement competition. Well organised, courteous, right balance, and prompt and insightful scoring and feedback.”
The brief for the work was based on the Council’s vision for the new campus: 21st century learning and teaching; nurture, support, inclusion and community access at its heart; a focus on health and wellbeing within the campus and enhanced outdoor facilities for the schools and for the local community.
We look forward to the next stages which involve a comprehensive public consultation, seeking the views of pupils, parents, community groups, local residents, businesses, sports clubs and other interested parties to influence the design of the campus.
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CHAS Accreditation Successfully Renewed 23/2/2016Robert Potter and PartnersNo CommentsOur CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) Accreditation has been renewed.
We have renewed our Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) Accreditation, which is SSiP approved. This accreditation confirms our competence and compliance with important parts of health & safety law: the core criteria described in the CDM Regulations.
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Dementia Care Awards Success in London 4/11/2015Robert Potter and PartnersNo CommentsTempleton House is Highly Commended for Best Dementia Care Development.
Templeton House Care Home was Highly Commended for Best Dementia Care Development in the Building Better Healthcare Awards event held in London. The judges noted “This is a lovely building with exceptional grounds.”
This 69 place dementia-friendly project was built by Cruden Building and Renewals Ltd for Windyhill Care Home LLP, with Robert Potter and Partners novated under D&B procurement.
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Special Needs Housing opens at Beeswing 29/9/2015Robert Potter and PartnersNo CommentsHallam House opens for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
Hallam House has opened at Beeswing. This project for Loreburn HA was designed around the needs of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. The intensive supported living service is also suitable for people with complex needs related to autism. The new homes incorporate assistive technology and a number of energy efficiency measures including a ground source heat pump.
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National Trust Threave Estate Stables Cafe Completed 25/9/2015Robert Potter and PartnersNo CommentsCharacterful new cafe opens in the garden at Threave, with indoor and outdoor seating.
The National Trust for Scotland have opened a new characterful cafe in the garden at Threave with indoor and outdoor seating. Visitors taking a walk in the garden can now linger and enjoy teas, coffees, homemade soups, delicious cakes and scones in this new cosy cafe.
The design evokes the story of the stable block and refers to horses, gardening and the warmth of an old shed. Old books, recycled wood and materials create an inviting and comfortable experience for all seasons.
This project involved the conversion of a Grade B Listed historic building, making use of the skills of our Accredited Conservation Architects.
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Certified Passive House Designer Accreditation 14/7/2015Robert Potter and PartnersNo CommentsJonathan Potter has been approved as a Certified Passive House Designer.
Jonathan Potter has been approved as a Certified Passive House Designer by the Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt, Germany, enabling us to provide advanced design of very low energy housing using Passive House principles. Passive House can also be applied to non-domestic projects and to retrofit projects to improve existing buildings.
We have already completed the UK’s most northerly certified Passive House, located in Kirkwall, Orkney.
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First houses in Orkney to achieve Silver Active Sustainability Label 17/3/2015Robert Potter and PartnersNo Comments4 affordable houses at Orphir are the first to achieve Silver Active level in sustainability. Here’s how:
We have just completed 4 affordable houses at Orphir for Orkney Housing Association. These are the first houses in Orkney to achieve the Silver Active Sustainability Label as defined in the Scottish Building Standards.
Here is how we did it.
The Silver Standard requirements (“Aspects”) are:
Aspect 1: CO2 emissions to be 21.4% lower than normally required by Building Standards. This was achieved using better insulation standards, high performance windows and doors, efficient heating system, and WWHR (waste water heat recovery) at the showers.
Aspect 2: Maximum energy demand for houses to be no greater than 40kWh/sq.m.
Aspect 3: At least 5% of hot water annual energy to be from solar assist or grey water heat recovery. To achieve this required the WWHR unit at the showers. We used the BRE calculator to demonstrate the energy reduction.
Aspect 4: Water use efficiency:
Low flush volume WCs 4.5 litres max.
WHB flow rates 6 litres per minute max.
Showers 8 litres per minute max.
Each house has an external water butt for rainwater harvesting with 200 litre capacity.
Aspect 5: Quick Start Guide for occupants.
Aspect 6: Flexibility & adaptability: Space for home office desk and associated electrical points (also required by Housing for Varying Needs).
Aspect 7: Well-being and security:
Enhanced noise reduction between rooms (heavier plasterboard / extra layer of plasterboard)
Enhanced natural daylighting
13amp spur for security alarm
Aspect 8: Internal space for recycling bins.
We achieved “Silver Active” standard by also using air source heat pumps as a renewable heating source.
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GIA Awards Sustainability Commendation 17/11/2014Robert Potter and PartnersNo CommentsMiddleburn Cottage receives the Glasgow Institute of Architects Commendation for Sustainable Design.
The Glasgow Institute of Architects have given a Commendation for Sustainable Design to our project which restored and extended Middleburn Cottage.
The key approach to the project was preservation where at all possible of the existing fabric in order to retain the historic integrity of the cottage, together with the use of breathable materials and traditional building methods. There was also an approach not to pristinely restore the building by the removal of later alterations such as the brick built chimneystacks and brickwork inbands to the byre door opening, thereby maximising the historic integrity and “telling the story” of the building.
There was to be no unnecessary disturbance or destruction of the building fabric, no matter how minor. If any part of the fabric needed to be replaced on a like-for-like basis to match the existing then this was treated as the absolute last resort. Any part of the existing fabric that could not be repaired was considered for a new use to further enhance the historic character of the restored building.
100 year old newspapers which were found as part of the work were incorporated into the interior. The old front door was beyond repair and was used as the end gable of the kitchen units.
The Client carried out several works themselves due to their willingness to learn new traditional conservation methods, to improve their practical conservation skills and to increase their attachment to the existing cottage, with the result being a dwelling with plenty of character and rustic charm.
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Britain’s Best Stargazing Locations 11/8/2014Robert Potter and PartnersNo CommentsGlenmalloch Lodge has been recommended in The Telegraph as one of the best locations for stargazing.
Glenmalloch Lodge has been recommended in The Telegraph as one of the best locations for stargazing. It sits in an area where the skies are unspoiled by artificial lighting and clear nights give spectacular views of the sky.
Find out more about this Landmark Trust holiday home at www.landmarktrust.org.uk
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