20 July 2023
Inverness Castle transformation – above and below photography update!
New photographs showing the latest developments at Inverness Castle were released this week, as progress continues in the transformation of the building to become a visitor attraction opening in 2025.
Photographs showing the preparation for the first elements of the superstructure for the new link building being put in place along with roof works have been released.
With foundations, sub-structure and below ground services now installed at Inverness Castle, the first elements of superstructure for the new link building, which will provide café and restaurant facilities connecting the former courthouse and prison for the first time, have now started to arrive and are beginning to be installed.
The first to arrive was the new floor elements, manufactured in Scotland and these are now in place, followed by bespoke columns and beams. With both in place, the new saltire roof structure - a design feature referencing the expressed structures in the existing building and the site’s Scottish heritage - will be able to commence as the link building takes shape.
Click on any image to view these as a gallery, with captions:
At roof level, on the former courthouse, careful and essential work – much of which will never be seen by the public – has been carried out to secure the future of the building. This has included the substantial renewal of intricate leadwork in and around the various towers, refurbished rainwater goods, traditional slate repairs, and replacement stonework and pointing to the original stone parapets.
Click on any image to view these as a gallery, with captions:
In addition, the top of a new lift shaft (hidden behind the parapets) is being completed and preparatory work has been carried out in anticipation of the installation of a new fully accessible public roof terrace.
Cllr Ian Brown, Leader of Inverness City and Area and Co-chair of the Inverness Castle Project Delivery Group, said:
It is fantastic to see these visual markers of the key construction steps on the new link building, which, when completed, will allow visitors indoor access between the two buildings for the first time ever.
Work is progressing extremely well, even with the events globally over the past few years producing unexpected pressure on construction projects everywhere. Having this superstructure in place is an exciting milestone and people will see that the Inverness Castle Experience is really starting to take shape.
The Inverness Castle project, opening in 2025, will benefit from £30m investment to support its re-development from the Scottish and UK Governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and a range of other partners.
The Inverness Castle project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.