Information Bulletin
11 August 2006
New Cinema and Music Venue, Lerwick, Shetland
The new Cinema and Music Venue project has taken a significant step forward with the appointment of the design team. Gareth Hoskins, Architects, will lead a design team which includes the Lerwick practices of Peter Johnson, Architects and David Adamsons, Quantity Surveyors.
Initially the Design Team will progress the project forward to the second stage of the Scottish Arts Council Capital Lottery application, the deadline for which is April 2007.
The team was selected by a tendering exercise which considered the skills, experience and design approach of the various teams as well as cost. The project attracted a high level of interest from very experienced potential design teams.
Lynsey Anderson, Chair of Shetland Arts, is ‘’delighted to have Gareth Hoskins working with us on this project; his team has the skills, experience, and the design approach necessary for this important project. It is good to see the project moving towards realisation.’’ Eddie Knight, The Councils spokesperson for Culture and Recreation said ‘’this is a major step in the delivery of a focus for the cultural scene in Shetland’’.
Gareth Hoskins is one of Scotlands leading architectural practices, highly regarded for their well considered and practical design approach. They have recently completed Easterhouse Arts Centre in Glasgow, a building of a similar size and type to the Lerwick project. They are currently also working on a major restoration of the Royal Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and in 2005 completed Robin House, a children’s hospice near Loch Lomond.
The Project Team is now working with Gareth Hoskins to prepare the necessary briefing information to enable design to start. Intensive consultation with potential users and user groups will commence in September to ensure that the building will consider their various aspirations.
The £7M project is being progressed as a partnership between Shetland Arts and Shetland Islands Council.
Ends.