June 14 2023

Historic Environment Scotland has shared plans for a new repository for records and archives through the renovation of an existing building in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian.

Archive House, an existing building on the Sherwood Industrial Estate, will be upgraded and extended to store priceless documents when completed in 2026, standing as an exemplar for reuse and retrofit in the process.

A design team including Gleeds, Oberlanders and Buro Happold are overseeing the project, the first to meet the Scottish Government's Net Zero Public Sector Building Standard.

Drawing the scattered resource together on one site will ensure that the extensive collection of drawings, photographs, documents, prints and books can benefit from the highest standards of care.

Lesley Ferguson, Head of Archives at HES, said: “Our archives offer an unparalleled view of the nation’s past, and this project will ensure they can be protected for future generations. This new purpose-built space will help us enhance and increase our conservation and cataloguing work, while advanced environmental protections and controls will help prevent damage to our priceless collections."

As part of this process the existing Archive search room and library, currently located in John Sinclair House, Edinburgh, will relocate to HES headquarters at Longmore House to remain publicly accessible.

1 Comment

#1 Posted by Al on 14 Jun 2023 at 18:32 PM

Would be more impressed if this was in Dundee or Inverness, or somewhere else that wasn't Edinburgh-shire.

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