Barr Construction seeks local subcontractors for Kelvin Hall overhaul

BarrBarr Construction has issued a call to the local construction industry to get involved in the first phase of the renovation of Glasgow’s historic Kelvin Hall.

Main contractor Barr will undertake a full transformation of the much-loved city landmark to create a unique community cultural hub.

Around 30 contracts are available to subcontractors and interested businesses are invited to attend a special event outlining the opportunities available on Thursday, November 13 at the Mitchell Library, Glasgow Room, North Street, Glasgow.

Barr representatives will be available to discuss the contracts available, which range from construction to fit-out, interior to exterior and from plastering to catering.



Once completed, the redeveloped Kelvin Hall will house community and cultural services from Glasgow Museums, Glasgow Sport, the National Library of Scotland and Glasgow University.

Large environmentally controlled rooms will be added to showcase the Hunterian collections currently housed at the University.

Around 1.5 million objects which are currently stored in various locations around the city will be relocated to the new facility. It will also house the only surviving complete suite of interiors by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for Mrs Cranston’s Ingram Street tearooms.

In addition, the development includes the construction of the new Hunterian Conference Centre and Conservation Centre as well as teaching labs and the National Library of Scotland’s Scottish Screen archive, which will improve access for the public to more than 100 years of Scottish history on film and video.



The redevelopment of the facility will also create a number of sports halls, dance studios and a state of the art gym, along with its associated changing and support rooms for Glasgow Club. Gym users will be able to enjoy views of the River Kelvin after the installation of a large picture window which will replace the old west entrance, which formerly led to the Transport Museum.

As a part of the project, Barr will construct a new glass entrance structure to the north of the building, opposite the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, which will house the foyer, reception and a café.

The Kelvin Hall opened as an exhibition centre in 1927 and has since been a music hall, indoor arena and even as a factory for the creation of barrage balloons during the Second World War.

Most recently, the Kelvin Hall was an International Sports Arena and home to Glasgow’s Museum of Transport before its relocation to the Riverside Museum.



Recent leisure contracts undertaken by Barr include Carnegie Leisure Centre in Dunfermline, Witham Leisure Centre in Essex and the renovation of the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, a venue for this year’s Commonwealth Games.

Barclay Chalmers, managing director of Barr Construction said: “The Kelvin Hall is a significant building in the city and the redevelopment is an extremely important project for Barr Construction.

“We are proud to have been awarded the work to renew this important and much-loved building and give it a new lease of life for the people of Glasgow to enjoy. Once the development is complete, we fully expect the Kelvin Hall to become a central community hub for future generations.

“We want local people to benefit from this project and we look forward to hearing the local supply chain coming forward to discussing the possibilities of working with us to deliver this first class facility.”



Work at the redeveloped Kelvin Hall is expected to be completed in summer 2016.

The suppliers’ event takes place from 4pm to 8pm on Thursday, November 13 at the Mitchell Library. The event is free and registration is advised to avoid disappointment. For more information or to register interest, go to www.constructionline.co.uk/events.


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