Refurbishment provides a new reception area, changing facilties and a revamped swimming pool for Highland community

Pick Everard, together with other partners, has completed the refurbishment of Thurso Leisure Centre, a £3m job conducted on behalf of the Highland Council.

The company provided mechanical and electrical building services design, the project’s main contractor was local firm O’Brien Construction, while Less Hutt Architects, of Inverness, came up with the architectural design.

The refurbishment provides a new reception area, changing facilties and a refreshed multi-purpose studio. The swimming pool underwent a complete refurbishment (pictured) and has been fully retiled, with a new sauna and steam room installed.

The new facility will be managed and operated by High Life Highland, the council’s arms-length charity, which nage many of the authority’s leisure and recreation buildings.

Doug Soutar, director at Pick Everard, said: “This was a complicated refurbishment which was carried out on a phased basis so that the leisure centre could remain in use.

“We incorporated new energy efficient mechanical and electrical services, including a biomass boiler. Our designs integrate an energy efficient ventilation system that is expected to save approximately 10% on revenue costs, and we have also used LED lighting throughout the centre, saving the council around 20 to 30% on the existing lighting energy costs.”