The new £10.5 million, Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation, which is aimed at bringing together business and academia to advance the low-carbon economy, has become the first listed building to achieve one of the UK's highest green building awards.
The design of the former Old High School building in Infirmary Street, refurbished by Malcolm Fraser Architects, has won a Breeam (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) award from the worldwide testing and certification company.
Breeam considers elements such as waste, pollution, land use and ecology, materials, management, health and wellbeing of users, energy and transport in grading new buildings.
Lead architect Calum Duncan said: "Compared to the standard demolish-and-new-build 'sustainability' model, the ECCI building represents a radical alternative and, as a general lesson, we suggest that the achievement of a low carbon economy should start with the joyful renewal of sturdy historic buildings, rather than their replacement.
"This recognition of the importance of the integrity of the existing built environment extends out from the building into the surrounding urban fabric. The historic Surgeon's Square (where Burke and Hare once delivered cadavers to Dr Knox's dissection theatre) to the rear of the centre, is recovered and transformed from a forgotten car park to a valuable urban focus. Routes are opened up through it connecting the centre to the Parliament, and to the general institutions and amenities of Edinburgh, by foot."
Regional director Neil McFarlane of lead constructor Graham Construction said: "We are very proud of having played a pivotal role in the creation of this showpiece facility. The ECCI is the only building of its kind in the world and this means we have had to bring completely new solutions to a unique set of construction challenges."
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