Phase 2 of the new Isle of Arran Distillery focused on the construction of the Distillery and Visitor Centre elements of the development. The intricate geometric design of the 2-storey distillery and visitor centre mimics the natural topography of the surrounding landscape of the Isle of Arran.
The existing ground level of the site was reduced and prepared with hardcore type 1 and levelled to the correct setting out point, ready for insulation and foundations. A 300mm layer of structural fill was laid to the proportion of the building’s footprint. Th eground floor slab is made of a single layer of A 252 mesh and 50mm under slab insulation to noted areas throughout the Visitor Centre.
The complex shape of the Distillery and Visitor centre led to a steelwork frame being developed. As the Copper stills and other large processing equipment were being installed during construction, it was necessary for the gable curtain walling to be designed to allow a large section to be left out during construction until the equipment was in place.
As the Principal Contractor and Steelwork Fabricator, BHC were for the supply,fabrication and erection of all steelwork including the preparation of fabrication detail drawings and the design of steelwork connections. All Hot Rolled Steelwork was galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 to 85 microns, primed and painted with an application of intumescent paint.
The building is clad in Scottish Larch, natural stone cavity walling and textured precast concrete panels, each having a different support requirement due to their size, exposed nature and the hillside location.The Distillery and Visitor Centre roof is finished with a Bauder Sedum Blanket Green Roof which commences from the ground level, mimicking the natural landscape, rising up to its undulating profile whilst reflecting the topography of Goatfell. For the installation of the roof, it was essential for the architects, contractors and suppliers to work closely together to achieve a successful installation.
