Callidus Design Consulting Engineers

Designers, engineers, consultants and technical specialists covering a wide range of building and process services.

Project Profile

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 Scottish Poetry Library

Project Description:

Scottish Poetry Library Extension

and Refurbishment

Location:

Client:

Project Value:

Project Duration:

5 Crichton's Close, Canongate, Edinburgh

Scottish Poetry Library

£350K

July 2014 – December 2015

 

Scottish Poetry Library Extension and Refurbishment

Callidus Design was appointed by the Scottish Poetry Library to carry out the design of all mechanical and electrical services relating to the construction of a new extension to their existing library building in Crichton’s Close, Edinburgh. The new extension was to provide the following functions:

  • Accommodate additional shelving units for further books and other poetry literature
  • Formation of a new retail and book display area
  • Formation of a new multi-function room for meetings, presentations and recitals
  • Formation of a new customer seating area
  • Formation of a new external decking area at mezzanine level

Formation of the new extension required the demolition of their existing garage and external stone staircase which was previously attached to the front facade of the building. As the garage contained the existing gas meter and associated pipework, a new gas connection was required as part of the project. In order to avoid disturbing the aesthetic appearance of the building, the location of incoming gas pipework and the meter assembly itself needed careful coordination and negotiation with the gas shipper (SGN) to ensure it would not be visible on the front building facade.

The existing library incorporated an unusual underfloor heating system (Tongue & groove chipboard system with integrated UFH pipework) which required to be carefully extended to accommodate the new ground floor areas of the extension. The library wished to retain the existing timber flooring and therefore the new underfloor heating circuits had to be carefully arranged to minimise the area of flooring requiring to be accessed. A number of historical design faults within the existing underfloor heating system, which had previously caused problems for the building users, were also addressed as part of the project.

The existing small power, fire alarm and security system installations were modified and extended to accommodate the new extension and refurbishment areas. The data server was relocated from the basement office to an area within the plantroom. This resulted in the complete distribution system being re wired. A new lighting installation was designed for the ground and first floor areas utilising low energy LED luminaires.

Callidus Design was responsible for the design of the following services required for the extension:

  • Modifications to the existing extract ventilation systems
  • LTHW System modifications, including extension of the underfloor heating system
  • Domestic Hot & Cold Water Supplies
  • Modification of existing natural gas installation
  • Small Power
  • Lighting
  • Data
  • Fire Alarm
  • Security