Hardies Property & Construction Consultants, headquartered in East London Street, Edinburgh, has been instrumental in bringing 1 Cockburn Street back to its former glory.
The Category B listed building is now the new headquarters for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which relocated from Market Street earlier this year.
Hardies, who are one of Scotland’s leading multi discipline surveying firms with fourteen offices across Scotland, were initially appointed as Project Managers to support The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo develop a project brief, and to select an appropriate design team, suited to the needs of the project. Once the design team and contractor were appointed, Hardies managed the whole process from start to finish.
Hardies then provided the additional services of Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying and Principal Designer to oversee the external fabric repairs which have transformed the building. Hardies also oversaw the CDM requirements for the project.
Partner in the Edinburgh office Murray Warner takes up the story: “This has been a superb project to be involved in. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a fantastic organisation to work with, and it has been both a pleasure and a privilege to assist them, and the brand.”
“No 1 Cockburn Street is a magnificent listed building which required complete internal and external refurbishment to create the headquarters which the Tattoo now enjoy. The lift within the main stairwell was removed and an impressive new build, glazed extension created within the courtyard to the rear. This design allows light to fill the building from the new roof light to the stair.”
Murray added: “As well as creating an inspirational space for staff and visitors alike, the design also offers full disabled access on all levels,” added Murray, who explained that the works in total were around Ł2.5m and the overall project including design, took just under two years to complete.
“We wish The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo well in their new premises. The whole project team worked well together which ultimately led to the overall success of the venture. It’s yet another example of how we can orchestrate the smooth running of such projects, working to time and budget restraints,” he added.
Brigadier David Allfrey, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Chief Executive and Producer said: “This has been an extraordinary project. From the first desire to move, it has taken us five years to completion: a third of the available time to develop the business case, a third to appoint an expert team, of which Hardies are a part, and a third to complete the work.”
“From the outset, we were particular in placing people at the heart of the project. We wanted to set the conditions for creative and professional work, in a place that inspires and offers a wonderful working environment.”
“Each space has been designed to meet the particular needs of the Company, while retaining the splendid period features of an historic Edinburgh building. As with all projects there have been moments of friction, but Hardies have smoothed out the bumps and done a fabulous job in bringing us all to a point. We are now installed and work rates are already on the up!”
Hardies is a multi-disciplined property consultancy, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013. It serves clients in both the private and public sectors with a complete operation in property and construction development, including property valuation, building and quantity surveying and project management. The firm also handles the leasing and sale of commercial and industrial buildings; H&S Principal Designer, clerk of works services and the provision of Energy Performance Certificates. Altogether, Hardies employ over 100 members of staff, professionally qualified in various disciplines, across its fourteen offices in Scotland.
Further details www.hardies.co.uk.
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