| Innovative design for Inspiring Aberdeen building |
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A NEW £3.1million centre of excellence for people with learning disabilities in Aberdeen has been specially designed with its users – and the local community – in mind. The charity Inspire’s Boulevard Project in the city, the first such initiative in Scotland, is being hailed as a textbook example of ‘social bridging’ – closing the gap between people with learning disabilities and the work environment. The purpose-built 14,000sq ft development at the western end of Aberdeen beach will be a ‘live’ workplace used for training and employing people with learning disabilities and used extensively by businesses and other organisations for meeting and training space hire and restaurant use. Architecture and space planning firm Space Solutions has been involved in the innovative project from the outset - from original feasibility, planning and consultation to design and project management. The building design encompasses features which take into account the needs of those with conditions such as autism and epilepsy, including careful use of colour, pattern, textures and lighting. The building will feature a 50-seater restaurant with terrace open to the public, and a double training kitchen designed to be accessible to people with mobility problems. Inspire will offer a range of fully equipped conference and meeting rooms for hire on the first floor and a large multi-purpose recreational space on the ground floor available for public and business bookings. There will also be new office headquarters for Inspire on the top floor. Overall the facilities will integrate employment and training for people with learning disabilities and be supported by the restaurant and conference facility. Angus Smith, Space Solutions lead architect for the project, said: “Our aim was to create a building which will be accessible and functional for the range of user requirements with a unique identity demonstrating quality and care. While having been designed for people with special needs, this has been discreetly incorporated into the internal and external spaces to achieve an attractive environment which provides equally for the needs of clients and the general public alike. “We have used hidden design technologies and engineering to create an energy efficient and cost effective landmark building for Inspire - and for Aberdeen.” Cath Avery, operations manager at Inspire, said: “Our requirements were extremely diverse as the centre needs to meet a number of dynamics between people accessing the mixed-use building and the encompassing business elements. Space Solutions has come up with a design which encapsulates all of these features. “Through planning and consultation they have provided us with something which should be accessible to everyone and we look forward to seeing the result in practice.” The building is expected to be open at the beginning of October with all elements fully operational at the beginning of 2008. Space Solutions business development manager Jan Emery said: “Consultation and research work was absolutely key and will ultimately pay real dividends when the project opens. We consulted with all stakeholders – including service users, staff, families, local authorities and funders – before embarking on the interior design planning process. “It means that the project is tailor-made for its primary purpose – providing employment, training and social opportunities for users – while at the same time generating income to sustain the organisation on-going.” |
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