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Construction contract signed for Edinburgh’s Higgs Centre

January 8 2016

Construction contract signed for Edinburgh’s Higgs Centre
Graham Construction has been appointed to deliver the £12m Higgs Centre for Innovation at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre’s Royal Observatory, Edinburgh.

Delivered in partnership with the University of Edinburgh the facility will marry education and research in the fields of space and big data and takes the form of a standalone pavilion within the existing observatory grounds.

Defined by a sweeping north façade the building will host laboratory space, meeting rooms and office suites as well as an upper level glass walled circular café designed to staff members and other users to mingle by serving up expansive views.

A cylindrical accommodation stair has also been included as a contemporary nod to the observatory dome.

In their design statement Jacobs noted: “The cellular nature of the first floor accommodation dictates a sequence of regular window opening. These opening have been ordered into a simple grid pattern along with windows into the lab and meeting spaces on ground floor. These openings are set within articulated stone walls.

“To offset this solidity and draw attention to entrances, key views and smooth the transmissions from adjacent buildings a more transparent and glazed treatment is given to the corners.”

The design supercedes an earlier plan by Austin Smith Lord.
A hilltop location offers expansive views
A hilltop location offers expansive views
The centre is named in honour of Nobel Prize winning physicist Peter Higgs.
The centre is named in honour of Nobel Prize winning physicist Peter Higgs.

6 Comments

A8
#1 Posted by A8 on 8 Jan 2016 at 13:59 PM
At first glance i thought the headline said 'Edinburgh's Haggis Centre'.
chieftan
#2 Posted by chieftan on 8 Jan 2016 at 14:07 PM
#A8 yi great puddin!
Author
#3 Posted by Author on 8 Jan 2016 at 14:44 PM
Is there an architect involved in the project?
Haggis lover
#4 Posted by Haggis lover on 8 Jan 2016 at 15:20 PM
Mmm, looks like a dross PFI school from 1998 plonked on top of Blackford Hill....

Haggis centre sounds like a great idea though..i'll suggest that to Mr Macsween next time i'm in. We can split the fee A8..
SAcre Bleu!
#5 Posted by SAcre Bleu! on 9 Jan 2016 at 15:11 PM
#3 - not by the look of it.
Although the article does mention Jacobs...
Urban Realm
#6 Posted by Urban Realm on 12 Jan 2016 at 10:51 AM
This project has been designed by Jacobs

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