The awards, organised by The Architects’ Journal, celebrate architectural expertise, innovation and ingenuity in the adaptation, upgrade and reuse of buildings in response to the climate emergency.

Delivered in collaboration with BE-ST, Clark Contracts and John Gilbert Architects (JGA), the major retrofit of the SNRC marks the first phase of retrofit and refurbishment works across BE-ST’s Innovation Campus. The project supports BE-ST’s ambition to decarbonise its campus and create a national demonstrator for high-quality, scalable retrofit solutions.

Taking a fabric-first approach, the project improved the building’s thermal efficiency through increased insulation and airtightness measures, while replacing the existing gas-based heating system with a zero direct emissions solution. The new system integrates hybrid heat pumps, solar PV and thermal arrays, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and energy-efficient lighting and controls.

The existing curtain walling system was replaced with a new insulated Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panel system, manufactured at BE-ST’s Mass Timber Centre of Excellence. This was complemented by increased roof and floor insulation to significantly reduce the building’s heating demand.

Throughout the project, Clark Contracts, BE-ST and JGA worked closely to share learning with the wider industry. This included a series of Behind the Build events, giving construction professionals, students and trainees the opportunity to see the deep retrofit works as they progressed.

Gerry Cummins, director, Clark Contracts, said: “We are delighted that Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre has been shortlisted at the AJ Retrofit & Reuse Awards. The project is a strong example of what can be achieved when the project team shares a clear ambition to deliver practical progress in retrofit and decarbonisation.

“BE-ST’s vision for the SNRC has created an important platform for the industry to learn from real-life retrofit solutions, while John Gilbert Architects’ expertise has helped shape a building that supports innovation, skills development and knowledge exchange. We are proud to have played our part in delivering a facility that will help support Scotland’s transition to net zero.”

Gavin Johnston, associate director for collaborative partnerships at BE-ST, added: “We are incredibly proud to see the ambition behind Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre recognised by the AJ Retrofit & Reuse Awards. This project demonstrates how, through innovation and aspiration, home-grown Scottish timber can be used in construction, bringing together the knowledge, capability and infrastructure BE-ST has developed over the past decade and applying it to a complex, real world retrofit.

“Manufacturing the timber panels off site in a controlled environment also provided the precision, consistency and high degree of quality control required to meet the project’s exceptional performance targets.

“The exceptionally low embodied carbon achieved sends an important message: best practice in sustainable design is not limited to new buildings. These solutions can be applied successfully through retrofit, creating significant opportunities to improve our existing building stock while supporting Scottish materials, skills and manufacturing. This recognition will help us share that learning more widely and raise awareness of what is now possible.”

Barbara Lantschner, associate director at John Gilbert Architects, said: “We are delighted to see Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre project recognised by these prestigious awards. From the outset, our ambition was to demonstrate how thoughtful retrofit design, a scalable approach and evidence-based decision-making could transform an existing, expensive-to-run building into a high-performing, low-carbon and comfortable facility.

“By showcasing a wide range of low-carbon strategies across both the building fabric and M&E and renewable energy systems, we have, in collaboration with BE-ST and Clark Contracts, delivered a project that not only supports Scotland’s net zero ambitions but also serves as a lasting demonstration of retrofit best practice, helping to inform future projects, develop industry skills and accelerate the wider adoption of high-quality retrofit solutions.”

The SNRC will serve as a demonstrator for complex retrofit solutions and a centre of excellence for retrofit training, upskilling and knowledge exchange across the construction sector. It will offer a wide range of resources, including testing and training rigs, workshops and events, helping to accelerate the adoption of practical retrofit solutions across Scotland and beyond.

The project was part-funded through Phase 1 of Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund. Edinburgh Napier University, administrator of BE-ST, was awarded £1.2 million through the fund, which is delivered by Salix on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The winners of the AJ Retrofit & Reuse Awards will be announced at the awards ceremony in London later this year.