Kilmarnock church stands tall again
January 29 2024
A former Kilmarnock church has been granted a new lease of life after a local charity moved mountains to secure its future as a climbing and bouldering centre.
Above Adventure has worked with John Gilbert Architects to preserve historic features while carving out an activity space within the cavernous volume.
Delivered with Narro Associates, Reid Associates and Emtec the £4m project, a decade in the making, has seen the former church hall transformed into a bouldering room, changing rooms and classroom.
This connects to a climbing hall in the church steeple, with both elements joined by a link block hosting a reception and cafe. Behind the scenes, extensive roof and structural repairs have also taken place with the opportunity being taken to make the historic building fully accessible for the first time.
Project architect Scott Abercrombie said: “We are delighted to see the project completed and the community making such great use of the building, after such a long journey to get to this point. The client must be highly commended here; they set out to deliver a sports and community project, and ended up delivering a high-quality heritage project at the same time.”
Funding was provided by SportScotland, Historic Environment Scotland and the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund with in-kind support from East Ayrshire Council.
A new link building hosts a reception and cafe
Facilities to support wheelchair climbing are included
Heritage stained glass has been repaired
The design team didn't put a foot wrong in the refurbishment
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Preserves a beautiful old building, and provides health and wellbeing benefits too.