Conservation and education charity, the Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick, announces the appointment of Simpson & Brown Architects for the National Marine Centre project.
The Simpson & Brown team worked on the original, award-winning Scottish Seabird Centre building which opened to the public in May 2000. The Seabird Centre has become a very popular landmark building and has won several architectural and sustainability awards.
The success of the Seabird Centre led to Simpson & Brown being appointed to design other visitor attractions. Over the last 16 years they have worked on, and won awards for, a range of high profile visitor-related projects including the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, the Dawyck Gateway at the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Arbroath Abbey Visitor Centre, York Art Gallery and, most recently, Rievaulx Abbey Visitor Centre and Museum to name but a few. They also designed the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club building at Aberlady.
With over 38 years’ experience, Simpson & Brown specialise in conservation projects, creative adaption of existing buildings and the design of environmentally-sound initiatives. The project team will be led by Partner, Andy Davey, with Partner, Susan Whittle and Associate, Jenny Phillips.
Andy Davey, Partner at Simpson & Brown Architects, said: “Our team is delighted to be involved with the National Marine Centre Project. We are immensely proud of the Seabird Centre building and believe we are ideally placed to develop and strengthen the design to make it even more inspirational as well as functional for visitors and staff.
“Our work focuses on respecting the past and responding to the challenges for the future, particularly with regards to environmentally sound, sustainable design. As these aspects will be a core focus for the National Marine Centre project we look forward to researching, consulting and developing the designs in partnership with the Seabird Centre team and key stakeholders.”
Grace Martin, Project Director for the National Marine Centre, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Simpson & Brown. Andy and his team have a very strong association with the current building and a wealth of experience in visitor attractions, sustainability and sympathetic design.
“It is still very early days with the project and we are currently in a period of public consultation. Going forward, Simpson & Brown will be keen to engage with visitors and non-visitors alike to help them identify how best to enhance the existing, iconic Seabird Centre building”.
The aim of the National Marine Centre is to help people discover more about our amazing marine environment and wildlife – life above and below the waves – including seabirds. It will present the opportunity for the Centre to achieve more of its charitable objectives by expanding and diversifying its education and conservation programmes, developing new activities and events, and enhancing the exhibition space. The National Marine Centre is the working title for this innovative project.
The public survey for the project is currently still open, closing on Monday 7 November: https://www.seabird.org/national-marine-centre/your-say/43/231