Planning approved for new development at the James Hutton Institute focused on nature-based solutions!

We are excited to announce that planning permission has been granted by Aberdeen City Council for a new project at the Hutton’s campus at Craigiebuckler which is a key milestone in the North East’s transition to net zero.

Backed by the Scottish Governments ‘Just Transition Fund’, this refurbishment project will create a state-of-the-art virtual and physical collaborative facility focused on driving engagement, training and innovation around nature-based net-zero solutions in the northeast and across Scotland.

With a focus on sustainability, the project looks at reimagining the lower floors of an existing office building as a key part of their ‘Open Campus Approach’ which will allow the public, educational and institutional communities to all utilise new spaces for collaboration and innovation.

The design has been informed through continuous discussion with the core client body and developed further via a series of workshops with staff members, as well as engagement with end users of the developed spaces. These workshops identified opportunities for shared flexible working spaces that can improve movement throughout the plan and highlighted the importance of adding modern conferencing, training, and exhibition spaces.

At its heart will be a Virtual Reality and Immersion Suite. This will utilise a state-of-the-art projection system to enable a wide range of stakeholder groups to visualise and agree on joint actions. By incorporating biophilic design with advanced technology to engage with the wider community, this building is an extension of the Hutton’s principles and ethos.

Professor Lee-Ann Sutherland, Director of International Land Use Study Centre at the James Hutton Institute says “jmarchitects’ vision for this development shines through in a landscape inspired biophilic redevelopment of our working space. The Hutton is looking forward to opening the doors to this new exciting development next spring to collaborate with stakeholders from across the globe in identifying sustainable solutions to the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.”

 https://www.gov.scot/publications/just-transition-fund/

Credit: Ronan Reid, jmarchitects