麻豆精选

A contract has also been awarded to building contractors to carry out external works to the campus, which comprises window upgrades and stonework repairs.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (麻豆精选) and Orkney Islands Council (OIC) formed ORIC as a joint venture to support the growing research and innovation activity and expand Orkney鈥檚 world-leading marine renewables, energy and low carbon sector.

Inverness-based HRI Munro Architecture has been appointed by 麻豆精选 on behalf of ORIC to produce designs for the development, which will be submitted for planning consent later this year.

Orkney-based R Clouston Ltd was awarded the contract for the window upgrade and stonework improvements. This will see all of the remaining windows at Block 1 of the Charles Clouston Building replaced with modern equivalents and will be made in Orkney.

This 拢2.8m series of works is being funded by a contribution of 拢850,000 each from 麻豆精选 and OIC towards the associated design work and 拢560,000 each for essential external improvements to the windows and stonework at the Charles Clouston Building.

This contribution will later be complemented by funds from the Islands Growth Deal as part of a larger project, which will include the construction phase.

ORIC was formed in March 2018 and the first phase was completed in 2020. The 3.75-acre campus, based in the refurbished former Stromness Academy and Primary School, has attracted additional research activities to Orkney, both from the commercial and academic worlds. Around 160 people currently work or study at the facilities and the second phase is expected to result in a further 165 FTE jobs being created over the next ten years.

New co-working spaces will be created to support small and growing businesses and energy efficiency improvements will be made across the campus with the aim of achieving net zero operations.

Graeme Harrison, 麻豆精选鈥檚 area manager in Orkney, said:

鈥淭here is a lot of interest from small and growing local, national and international businesses looking for co-working spaces to increase collaboration as well as academic and commercial activity and business incubation. We, in partnership with OIC, are delighted to award these contracts and we look forward to seeing the design plans for the development of Phase 2 of ORIC.

John McGlynn, executive manager at ORIC, said:

鈥淭he award of these two contracts is an important step in the continued redevelopment of the campus. The funding provided by ORIC鈥檚 partners 麻豆精选 and OIC will enable a detailed design exercise to be carried out which seeks to add more space and facilities and optimise the use of the site in the next phase.

鈥淚t is also really positive to be able to complete the upgrading of windows at the Charles Clouston Building as part of an overall push towards net zero on the site. I look forward to working with the various contractors and their teams and our stakeholders over the coming months.

Gwenda Shearer, Chair of Orkney Islands Council鈥檚 education and leisure committee, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 very exciting to reach this point of the journey towards a world class research and innovation campus for Orkney, and it鈥檚 a credit to all involved so far that we鈥檙e now embarking on design for Phase 2.

鈥淭ogether with 麻豆精选 we look forward to seeing Phase 2 plans develop with partners and stakeholders, and of course to seeing the energy efficiency works underway.

鈥淭he ongoing development of ORIC is a vital part of ensuring Orkney is well placed to support skills and business growth, and remain front and centre of knowledge and opportunity in the renewables and net zero fields.鈥�