Two Holmes Miller projects shortlisted for Edinburgh architectural awards

Meadowbank Sports Centre and Canaan Lane Primary School are both shortlisted in the ‘Large Project’ category of the Edinburgh Architectural Association awards, which are a showcase for the capital’s architectural profession to demonstrate its skills and its contribution to society and the environment.

The new £47m Meadowbank sports centre, which opened this summer, was designed to accommodate not just elite athletes and local sports teams such as FC Edinburgh, but members of the community too. It features two multi-sport halls, a gym, outdoor athletics track and stand, two synthetic pitches, a hospitality suite and a café.

Designed to high standards of sustainability, the centre has been a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the Meadowbank area, in line with City of Edinburgh Council’s longer-term ambitions to cut carbon emissions while improving the health and wellbeing of residents.

The £14m, 462-pupil Canaan Lane Primary School, which opened in August and includes a nursery, is set in the Grange conservation area. The school responds to its conservation area setting with a stone and corten steel natural palette of materials and carefully balanced geometry.

The design, which was developed considering feedback from the building users and local community, includes outdoor learning areas and flexible spaces between classrooms where pupils from different classes can interact, and teachers can collaborate.

Ian Cooney, project director at Holmes Miller and design lead on Meadowbank said: “The sports centre and the school were designed with local communities and the environment in mind, so it’s fantastic that both buildings have been recognised for their design credentials. 

“Rebuilding Meadowbank has ensured the facility is fit for purpose in a net zero world, and can continue to host and train generations of athletes for many decades to come.”

Clara Garriga, project director at Holmes Miller and project lead on Canaan Lane Primary said: “Canaan Lane Primary was designed with input from the people who will be using the building, which is so important. It will provide a variety of teaching opportunities that will allow children to learn in different ways, both indoors and outdoors, and have a lot of fun while doing it.”
The two projects are up against the Great Tapestry of Scotland Gallery and the Greyfriars Charteris Centre. The award winner will be announced on 27 October.