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Synergie & AHW to build £4million Fair Isle Bird Observatory
Majority of funding now in place
Synergie partnered with AHW on the bid, taking control of the design element and working with AHW’s modular construction technique, the client has just approved the final configuration and elevations. These designs have recently been submitted for planning approval with the Shetland Island Council with the aim being to have the consents and funding in place by June 2009 to allow a summer start to the construction.
Demolition will involve recycling the old building elements as much as possible on the island with the remaining waste being removed by the barges, which will be used to bring in the building modules. The new facility will be a modern, highly energy-efficient and eco-friendly place for visitors to stay, and for scientists and students to continue their long-term research on Fair Isle’s migratory and resident birds
The construction period will last from the summer of 2009 into the spring of 2010, meaning that the facility would be closed for the first time ever for a full season. The bird Observatory is arguably one of the foremost observatories in the world and relies on the visitors and member’s donations for survival. Funding for the project has been secured, but the Trust is still in the process of raising the final funding through donations details of which can be found on their website:
http://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/
Roy Dennis, Chairman of FIBOT, and a former warden himself, said “We are very excited that we can now start building a new Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, for visitors to this beautiful island, for our important studies on migration and seabirds, for researchers and for the Fair Isle community – our partners over 6 decades. We are extremely grateful for yesterday’s announcement by the Minister, Richard Lochhead, of our successful bid for SRDP funding, and also the earlier funding support from HIE, and the crucial funds promised last autumn by Shetland Islands Council, which allowed our appeal to go ahead. This will be a momentous year for us and we look forward to welcoming bird-watchers, researchers and visitors again in 2010”
David Russell, Director Synergie Scotland said; “Synergie is proud to be involved in this project for such an important organisation and to be part of the team that will deliver their new facility. Fair Isle is a great example of a strong island community and the work carried out in research at the Observatory is of huge significance within the science community. As the migratory patterns of birds to the islands has reflected changes within the world climate it is very important that we deliver a sustainable building for this research to continue.”
The photograph on the rights shows David Spence & Terry O’Harra, AHW (Orkney Contractor), David Russell & Ian MacGillivray, Synergie Scotland (designers and partners on this project with AHW), wardens Hollie and Deryk Shaw & Roy Dennis, Chairman of FIBOT
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