Collective Architecture are delighted to announce that plans...

Collective Architecture are delighted to announce that plans have been submitted to West Lothian Council for a new Partnership Centre in East Calder. The proposed Partnership Centre will bring together the currently dispersed services in East Calder into a centrally located hub building. Services to be provided in the new facility include; the East Calder Community Library, Community Education & Resource Centre and changing facilities for local sports clubs.

Building proposals have been developed in parallel with a masterplanning strategy which aims to establish a green link through the town centre site and across Main Street. The green link is proposed as a shared space which will create a new civic centre for East Calder, connecting the playing fields in the east and the River Almond to the west.

The two primary building uses of a library and community multi purpose halls provided the opportunity to create a distinct building form of two volumes which have been arranged around a south facing entrance garden and play area. The community library has been located to overlook the Main Street whilst the multi purpose halls have been orientated to overlook and open out to the playing fields. Green roofs have been proposed to the two building volumes to further establish the concept of the green link.

A controlled palette of materials has been chosen in response to the predominately stone context of the Main Street. Precast concrete panels coloured to reference the local stone is proposed alongside restricted areas of corten metal on the south facing public elevations whilst a grey multi facing brick has been selected to the north facing elevations.