Sri Lanka High Commission Topped Out by the British High Commissioner

Mr Dominick Chilcott, the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, topped out the High Commission building at a ceremony attended by most of the High Commission staff and the building team on 27 March, Richard Murphy and Tim Bayman from the office attended. The building is progressing and is expected to be finished by Christmas. New pictures of its current progress have been posted on the project web page.

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Planning Submitted for Radisson SAS Hotel and Office Building at Justice Mill Lane in Aberdeen

After some design gestation since we won the design competition last year, this exciting project has been lodged with Aberdeen city planning department. It consists of a 160 bed Radisson hotel and a 12,000 m2 atrium office development together with 262 underground car park spaces. More images can be seen on the project web page

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New Commission

Edinburgh Academy have commissioned the practice to design a new nursery and after school facility at their Arboretum Road campus. A planning application is expected to be made soon with a view to completion for the academic year starting Autumn 2008.

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Projects Starting on Site

The University of East London
Tenders have been received for two projects for the University of East London and work will start on both buildings simultaneously in June. Both buildings are expected to be ready for occupation in October 2008. They are a new Computer Library/400 seat Lecture Theatre and general teaching building and a new Faculty of Education, both projects located at the University’s Stratford Campus and continuing the realisation of our Master plan there. Confirmation of appointment of contractor is awaited.

Kirkintilloch Learning Centre Extension
After some delay our Extension to Kirkintilloch Learning Centre is now due to start in May 2007 with a expected completion date of August 2008. We await final confirmation of appointed contractor.

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Competition News

Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre Competition
We were, unfortunately, unsuccessful in this competition but images of our "outlook and Gateway Tower" have been posted on the project web page. The completion generated considerable publicity with all six finalists featured in AJ (14 December 2006) and BD (10 November 2006).

New Auditorium, Hotel and Sports Complex Development at Jesus College Cambridge
Many friends have asked about the outcome of this competition which we presented at the end of February. We have been advised that the decision is being delayed for a few months whilst funding is secured so we hope to be able to publish our project (whether successful or not) at that point.

New Museum Dunfermline
We have been short listed for this exciting new building adjacent to the original Carnegie library and opposite the grounds of Dunfermline Abbey. Submission is at the end of this month.

Highland Housing Fair
This interesting competition for houses on a site outside Inverness is attracting a lot of attention from developer/architect teams. CALA have invited us to be their architect and we are preparing designs for a carbon neutral experimental house capable of mass production. Submission is at the end of May. The winning entries will be built for the Fair to be held in the summer of 2009 and then offered for sale.

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Planning Permission for Two Major Projects at the Former Royal Infirmary

Full planning has been received for the revised proposals at the Royal Infirmary including our proposed conversion of the Grade A listed Surgical Building by Bryce for residential use (above, left). The other project, the construction of 160 affordable apartments for Hillcrest Housing Association (above, right) together with offices and nursery school also received planning and we have just been commissioned by the Society to move to the next stage of design.

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Press

Richard’s OBE Award in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List was reported in January in the Scotsman, BD and AJ.

Our new development at the Haymarket, Edinburgh has received further publicity - including extensive cover in local papers - the Evening News and Scotsman and also in Architecture Scotland magazine (published by Prospect) in an article on 20 March called “£200 Million Haymarket Project Unveiled By Tiger Developments”

On 29 March probably our final small scale conversion of a private house was featured in the Property Section of the Scotsman with the title “Two became one to create space, light and loads of storage” - the combination of 7 & 9 Dean Park Mews for clients Andrew MacDonald and his wife Julie was completed in 2004.

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Forthcoming Lectures

Richard has been invited to give a key note talk at Aberdeen University to the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment and 5710 Architectural Student Association at their annual lecture series on 26 April. The lecture this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the School and as such the programme includes an enhanced format including public participation and is open to staff, students and members of the public. The lecture starts at 5.00 pm at the University.

Richard has also been invited to give a lecture on 3 May to the Welsh School of Architecture and Student Association of the School at Cardiff University - the aim of the lecture series is to invite private architectural practitioners to give alternative perspectives focusing on personal ethos and design principles. The lecture will take place in the evening.

On 12 June Richard will lecture on the subject of Design to Glasgow City Council, elected members.

Finally he will also be lecturing at the Sir John Soane's Museum in the Autumn, date to be advised.

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