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Community and Sports Centre, Kinlochleven

Brief

Following work by Gaia Planning in establishing the need and viability of a Community and Sports Centre in this village until recently dominated by the Aluminium Smelter, Gaia Architects prepared a Feasibility study which was used to attract funding from a number of sources, notably SportScotland. The building comprises a Main Hall, and Changing facilities, an Learning Resource Centre for the University of the Highlands and Islands, Snooker Room, Fitness Suite, Kitchen and several General Purpose Community Rooms.

Construction

The construction was completed in October 2001. The Centre boasts only the second use of Dynamic Insulation in a major building in Scotland, is highly insulated generally and is heated entirely by locally sourced woodchip making it an essentially carbon neutral building. The natural slate roof is complemented internally by a sweeping rooflight bringing natural light into the centre of the building, with natural timber and paint finishes throughout.