CASE STUDY: Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty has delivered several projects as part of its work in Scotland which were tailored to the needs of particular communities and service users, and designed in partnership with them.
Ninewells – Courtyard Improvement
In 2022, Balfour Beatty successfully collaborated with supply chain partners on its NHS Tayside Capital Projects to deliver a Courtyard Improvement project within Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
Working together with its supply chain, the project team constructed a large new ‘hobbit house’ style playhouse, provided a new timber garage and constructed a mini racetrack for children to use the small electric cars adjacent to the new Children’s Theatre.
It provided children visiting the hospital with access to a refreshed outdoor space and utilised the children’s electric cars which are used in the Children’s Theatre.
The courtyard improvement project project utilised a range of expertise from within Balfour Beatty & NHS Tayside project teams as part of its community benefits plan for Capital Projects at Ninewells.
The project also benefited from support from a number of supply chain partners who donated materials, time and pro bono contributions towards the project – including Hygenius, Dundee Plant Company Limited, Taylor and Fraser, G.T. Diamond Drilling Services Ltd & RDA-Architects.
Badenoch & Strathspey – Therapy Garden
Helping patients through their journey of recovery, Balfour Beatty have brought to life a new therapy garden for the rehabilitation of people with medical and mental health issues at the new NHS Badenoch and Strathspey Community Hospital. Championing the work of the Badenoch and Strathspey Garden Therapy Group as part of a project to build the new hospital in the Scottish Highlands, Balfour Beatty created the therapeutic green space to support the wellbeing of staff, patients, visitors and the local community.
Balfour Beatty first met the charity garden group during a pre-construction community information event where the idea of a therapy garden at the new hospital began to take shape.
In collaboration with the charity’s committee management team, the local community and design partners Oberlanders and Wardell Armstrong, Balfour Beatty began the process of designing the new garden. The design had to take into consideration all community members including those needing wheelchair access. The final approved plan consisted of a greenhouse, storage shed, eight raised planting beds set at different heights, compost bins and a water butt.
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing design meetings online and issues sourcing materials, the therapy garden was successfully delivered on time alongside the completion of the community hospital in September 2021. This allowed for the community group to access the garden space and fully develop the new therapy garden space during 2022.
The therapy garden has been recognised nationally during 2022 as industry best practice, being shortlisted for the Building Awards 2022 and winning the Considerate Constructors Scheme Leading Lights overall community category award.
Stockingfield – Community Art Project
The Stockingfield Junction is more than just a bridge – it’s the beating heart of a new community. The Community Arts Project has been pivotal in shaping community engagement, helping to understand better the communities’ identities and shaping this landscape for future generations. Through community consultations, a series of artworks was curated, inspired by local voices, the industrial heritage, and biodiversity near the canal. The project galvanised community groups and volunteers who created eight major art installations for their community and visitors to enjoy.
The Stockingfield ‘Beithir’ installation was designed to give the site its own identity and create an interactive and sustainable solution to reusing and repurposing waste materials, demonstrating socially responsible construction methods with community values at its core. Paying homage to the cultural heritage of the area through Scottish folklore and symbolism, the concrete clad snake undulates through the site, and will be covered in a mix of handmade and mosaic tiles.
Primary schools, care homes, women’s centres, youth groups and other local community hubs have made over 4000 community tiles so far – individually crafted but displayed to provide a visual representation of communities coming together. This is a key element in placemaking and legacy building for the project, with each contributor making their mark on Stockingfield.