Case Study

Fair Isle Bird Observatory

Replacement Building

Project Duration: 8 months
Completion date: May 2009 (current phase)
Overall Project Cost: £4 million

Project Description:

The building replaces the existing facility that has been in place for over 60 years. A novel system of modular construction will be used to minimise on site construction time with the main construction taking place in Orkney, sent by barge to the island and then craned into place. During the initial 8 months we have achieved planning consent, submitted for the building and demolition warrants and produced a design that meets the future needs of the Trust whilst incorporating many energy saving features to reduce running costs and minimise the carbon footprint. Much of the existing building will be recycled on and off the island, factory construction will help limit material wastage and dynamic insulation combined with heat recovery systems will minimise the energy requirements in this fragile and remote location. The main heating system will include the use of CHP technology and the roof tiles have an integrated PV panel that will be installed. With funding now in place for the construction phase work started this month and the project handover is scheduled for the end of March 2010.