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Graham Thompson
Associate Director , Edinburgh, UK contact form
The higher education sector is used to harnessing the past to create opportunities for the future. Giving historic buildings a new lease of life often requires a delicate balancing of heritage and conservation issues with modern technology.
Almost 150 years on from the original construction of Edinburgh’s prestigious Old Royal Infirmary, construction works are underway to transform the building into the University of Edinburgh’s Futures Institute (EFI).
Due to our extensive experience of complex heritage refurbishment project AtkinsRéalis was appointed to provide multidisciplinary services from inception.
The Grade A listed Old Royal Infirmary building lay dormant and uninhabited for over a decade accelerating decay and deterioration. The building was in extremely poor condition, with significant asbestos, multiple layers of finishes, concealed rooms, structural instability and rot. Our strategy to derisk the development involved four enabling works packages to strip the building back to its original fabric. This structure minimized client exposure to significant prelims and potential overruns due to unknowns.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Our adaptable approach to stakeholder engagement created a strong collaborative culture. The project’s duration and evolving end user vision required a positive, well structure approached to ensure consistency of messaging and working towards collective end goal. Our project management team is embedded within the University’s estates office which has supported with ongoing communication.
Adaptability in a time of change
The brief specified an agile building that can meet the users evolving needs and provide flexibility and adaptably for the future. The forward thinking of the client team and our designers has resulted in a building that is resilient to the emerging challenges borne by the Covid-19 pandemic. The flexibility built into the design from the outset means the building is still fit for purpose in a post-covid era. It is safe to say that there are going to be challenges in the way we use buildings and the way they need to perform, creating adaptable and agile building will be key to success.
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Cost & Commercial Management, Building Surveying, Project Management, Sustainability, Environmental Certifications
It has been a privilege for AtkinsRéalis to work on such a large, unique and historic building in Edinburgh. This experience has also been enhanced by working with such an astute client and end-user group. There have been significant construction challenges involved but overcoming each of them in collaboration with the project team has been hugely rewarding. Partnering has been at the heart of EFI’s delivery, which has undoubtedly contributed to its success.
EFI have adopted the mantra inscribed on the buildings “Patet Omnibus” meaning “Open to All”. We believe that the original intentions for the building will be realized through modern interventions and proposed digital innovation.
Graham Thompson
Associate Director, AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis provides strong leadership and consultancy skills capable of dealing with large complex projects. AtkinsRéalis and their supply chain have been adaptable, creative, and forward thinking during this extremely challenging and complex project. The team continue to manage the project with great care and diligence which is a huge asset to the overall on-site delivery process.
Jane Johnston
Director of Estate Development
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