Latest News
New Fair Isle Bird Observatory on target
Synergie and AHW achieve difficult milestone
The modules, which were manufactured by AHW at their production facility in Kirkwall, were initially to have been shipped from Orkney to the Fair Isle by a specially commissioned barge from Sweden but unfortunately bad weather prevented it from sailing. An alternative vessel was quickly utilised and all 30 modules were transported over a period of a week to Fair Isle where they were immediately erected onto the prepared foundations.
Despite all the barriers, both the lead designers, Synergie Scotland, and the construction company AHW Building Ltd, have worked together to achieve this difficult milestone. When completed the building, which will house the new observatory and residential accommodation units, will be a highly energy-efficient, eco-friendly place for visitors to stay, and for scientists and students to continue their long-term research on Fair Isle’s migratory and rare local birds.
David Russell, Director at Synergie Scotland said; “Not only was the remoteness of the project a barrier to the build but there were time constraints as the client could only commercially afford one season with the Observatory out of commission. The build could only start in early summer and due to the small weather window available for shipping to the island, the off site construction method has provided a high quality product that is already wind and water tight. This now leaves 6 months in the contract for the interior of the building to be completed and we are confident that the project will be handed over on schedule for the Observatory to reopen for next years season.”
Fairisle Bird Observatory - latest news
« Back to the News page.
