Live Procurement Careers Contact
Lister Learning Centre image 1 191107 155729
The University of Edinburgh Logo White

Lister Learning and Teaching Centre

Project value: £5.7 million

Sector: Higher Education

No. of college students engaged: 60

No. work experience places delivered: 55

Apprenticeships created: 15

Waste diverted from landfill: 97%

"Throughout this process Robertson have maintained a high level of professionalism and have continued to execute the UoE’s vision for this unique project."

John O’Hara

Senior Project Manager | Faithful+Gould on behalf of The University of Edinburgh

With an urgent need for additional teaching space due to increased number of students, the University of Edinburgh commissioned the refurbishment of the Lister Building along with a purpose built 5 storey link building.

Overview
Requirements
Challenges

Robertson Construction has completed the first of two main phases of work to create two teaching and lecture facilities for medical students at the University of Edinburgh at Roxburgh Place along with better access and circulation space between the two buildings.

The project was procured through the SCAPE Major Works framework (now superseded by Major Works Scotland), part of the National Construction framework. It was delivered by Robertson in partnership with Willmott Dixon. Using this framework enabled a swift turnaround from the pre-construction stage to starting work on site, enabling the project to be delivered in the short timeframe required.

The project involves a series of alterations and refurbishments to existing buildings, as well as construction of a new five-storey link building between the two existing buildings.

Phase 1 was handed over on time in September 2017, on schedule for the academic year. This released 22 teaching spaces which will accommodate approximately 30 additional students per space.

Work included:

  • New temporary entrance into Lister building from Roxburgh Place
  • Designing and completing temporary works within lecture theatre
  • Additional partitions screening Phase 1 works from later Phases 2 and 4
  • Reconfiguration of M&E services
  • Procuring and creating new temporary reception area including raised floors, platforms, partitions, external and internal doors, and finishes

The University had an urgent need for additional teaching spaces due an increased number of students in the medical faculty.

In addition, the site is situated on a cobbled street in Edinburgh’s busy, historic city centre, making logistics challenging. There was limited space for site cabins, material deliveries and lay-down areas.

The tight site and short timeframe meant that careful attention had to be paid to the construction programme, while also scheduling deliveries to minimise disruption to local residents and businesses.

"Robertson redeveloped the existing Lister and Pfizer buildings located in a tight, historic city centre location with all the logistical challenges that entailed to create a modern, fully accessible learning and teaching facility comprising a new six-storey steel frame / aluminium curtain walling link building, and fully refurbished and remodelled existing accommodation. The challenging construction programme was managed to deliver Phase 1 of the project on schedule, meaning the University took possession of much needed additional teaching space for over 670 students in time for the new academic year. Throughout this process Robertson have maintained a high level of professionalism and have continued to execute the UoE’s vision for this unique project."

John O’Hara

Senior Project Manager | Faithful+Gould on behalf of The University of Edinburgh

42/50

Considerate Constructor Scheme

97%

Waste diverted from landfill

15

Apprenticeships delivered

In collaboration with:

SCAPE Scotland Construction
Willmott Dixon Logo RGB
Robertson

Share case study

Twitter LinkedIn

Project gallery