Dunfermline cultural hub is recognised for benefit to community

Carnegie Library and Galleries adds to growing list of titles

Dunfermline’s new cultural hub has collected another award.

The £13 million Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries picked up the community benefit award at the RICS Awards 2018 for Scotland.

It will now go on to compete against other regional winners from across the UK for the chance to be crowned overall champion later this year.

The awards celebrate inspirational initiatives across Scotland.

Head judge Colin Smith said exhibitions focused on local peoples’ lives and experiences and the architecture sat well in the Dunfermline heritage area, with a seamless melding of the traditional with the new and bold and the project exuding a feeling of community wellbeing.

Museum curator Lesley Botten, who oversaw community engagement for the duration of the project’s development, said: “We worked with so many schools, community groups, individuals and volunteers over the life of the project and they all helped make the venue what it is.

“The award is a testament to the work of the project team and to every one of the local people who helped us,” she said.

Lesley said the community benefit of the venue was apparent every day in the number of locals enjoying its facilities.

“It has become a real hub for people to gather, to participate, to study, to relax, and to feel part of.”

Designed by architect Richard Murphy and delivered by BAM Construction, it joins the world’s first Carnegie library and a former bank to a purpose-built modern extension overlooking Dunfermline Abbey.

Fife Cultural Trust staff, which manages it on behalf of Fife Council, has tracked an average of 5,000 visitors a week since it opened last May.

A month after it opened the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland named it one of 12 winners of the award for best current Scottish architecture.

Fife Council received the Scottish Government’s client of the year award.

The project subsequently scooped the RIAS Andrew Doolan award for building of the year, and the Edinburgh Architectural Association’s building of the year and large project of the year titles.

Picture: Chris Humphrey. Recognised at RICS Awards: Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Lesley Botten said the community benefit of the venue was apparent every day in the number of locals enjoying its facilities.