Published on:
22
June 2015
The multi million pound regeneration of the Speirs Centre has won a prestigious architecture award.
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) awarded the Historic Scotland Special Award for Conservation and Climate Change for the project designed by LDN Architects LLP. They praised the regeneration saying "adapting an impressive Victorian public baths and gym with an uncompromisingly new extension delivers important new community facilities and offices." The centre has also recently won the Edinburgh Architectural Association Ambassador Award.
The impressive community hub re-opened in October last year, and has since proved very popular with the people of Clackmannanshire, hosting community events, weddings, meet the author opportunities and interesting talks on areas of local interest. The Speirs Centre now features:
- a new modern library facility
- local and family history facilities with access to all of Scotland's birth, death, marriage, old parish records, open censuses and much more
- customer service facilities for all enquiries, payments and bookings
- registration of births, deaths and marriages
- public wi-fi and computers for public use
- exhibits showing the history and heritage of Clackmannanshire
- seating and relaxation areas
This RIAS recognition is the latest in a number of such awards given to regeneration projects in Alloa over the past few years. The Forth Valley College Campus project and the redevelopment of Kilncraigs into a headquarters for the Council have been awarded a number of national prizes and commendations for their design and regeneration qualities.
Council Leader Cllr Les Sharp said: "It is a matter of great pride for the people of Clackmannanshire that the refurbishment of this much loved building has been recognised with this prestigious award. I am delighted that we were able to secure a sustainable future for this important listed building as a hub which provides the range of modern services and facilities that our community needs. The redevelopment of the Speirs Centre is part of the ongoing Making Clackmannanshire Better programme which is moving towards integration of services within hubs, and is just one of the investments that the Council has made in the regeneration of our town centres, helping to make them better places to live and work in."