Education

Restoration of Grade A listed Old College, designed by Playfair, stripping out generations of alterations to provide suitable accommodation for the Law School, in phased redevelopment. Structural interventions included a new principal stair and lift, adjusting floor levels to gain level access throughout, and moving the location of the large Law Library. All the works ensured the historic spaces and fabric were preserved through careful interventions, including carefully running all services through existing floors, and separating new structure from existing walls to give the appearance of the original spaces. Images courtesy of Paul Zanre

Refurbishment of Grade A listed Old High School at High School Yards formerly used by Department of Archaeology to provide an exemplar department for the University of Edinburgh, which achieved a BREEAM rating of ’outstanding’.

As part of the first phase to demolish and redevelop their Grassmarket Campus, George Heriot’s School created a new two-story multi-facility Sports Centre. The site is bounded by the historic Greyfriar’s Graveyard and can only be accessed via a very tight pend. The new structure was formed by a concrete-framed podium supporting long-span engineered frames supporting the sedum roof over the sports hall and studios.

E&Co were the structural consultants for this jewel of a library adjacent to the Flodden Wall in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. The complex design accommodates within a small space traditional library facilities, with a van store and a performance space. The complexity of the structure is well hidden within the crispness of the design.

Historic Scotland required a new education centre and offices for the park rangers based in the Queens Park, behind the Palace. The education rooms faced the park with large windows and a deep timber veranda, with timber security shutters.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh required a new entrance pavilion which would provide improved visitor and staff facilities at their outreach garden near Peebles. The low building sits quietly among mature specimen trees and the predominance of the glazed areas encourages the open aspect. It was designed to a sustainable agenda with a sedum roof, timber frame, and a heat sink wall to modify the internal atmosphere, and wood chip heating.