Provision of UBIX temporary roof to support contractor Kier with removing and replacing the rear roof after RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) was found.

Bearsden Burgh Hall was originally used for civic administration duties and underwent a £3 million transformational refurbishment in 2017 to upgrade the existing building, which involved inserting a new floor to increase usable space, redesigning the interior, fitting modern glazing, and creating a new main entrance to create a more welcoming, accessible community space.

Hub West Scotland commissioned architects Anderson Bell Christie to modernise the building exterior and remove elements of the front facade to bring more natural daylight into interior spaces and replace the existing roof structure. A new floor was inserted into the original high-ceiling building to double the floor space and maximise the services delivered to the surrounding local community. The building now accommodates various council services under one roof, including a library, public archive, public toilets, a large multi-purpose hall and a smaller hall for public gatherings. 

However, in October 2023, the Bearsden Community Hub was closed by East Dunbartonshire Council after RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) was found in the rear of the facility. So, the council subsequently appointed structural engineers to undertake more intrusive investigations to establish what remedial actions would be needed to reopen the building. After detailed analysis, it was deemed that the Community Hub must remain closed until the roof is fully replaced, preventing their plan to start reopening parts of the building in conjunction with the phased completion of works to minimise disruption for visitors. So for the closure duration, the nearby Westerton Library has increased its opening hours to accommodate Bearsden’s residents.

In April 2024, the council issued a tender invitation to seek a qualified roofing contractor to carry out the works.

To support Kier, the main contractor appointed via the Scape Scotland Construction Framework, to carry out the works, including removing the autoclaved aerated concrete panels at the rear of the building, then constructing a new flat timber roof to match the existing external finishes. Enigma has provided a UBIX temporary roof canopy structure that’s windproof and watertight, so various tradespeople can complete their scheduled work beneath. The fully encapsulated UBIX roof covered in system sheeting spans over the existing building to create a secure, weatherproof environment, helping the programme remain on schedule without interruption from adverse weather conditions.

An integrated Kwikstage staircase enables access at the roof canopy level, and a raised loading bay platform was erected at the building rear for safely delivering materials and removing waste efficiently during the overall refurbishment works. A sheeted birdcage supporting a fully boarded decked platform was erected internally below the upper floor ceiling to further aid the roof removal and new installation works.

Bearsden is an affluent town 6 miles northwest of Glasgow, and the Community Hub located on the main street is surrounded by independent shops and cafe bars that attract heavy footfall throughout the day. The tight building footprint meant Enigma’s operational team faced multiple challenges, starting with initial equipment delivery logistics and the eventual buildability to minimise disruptions caused to local residents. 

So, to remove any potential setbacks, our highly skilled team of operatives worked closely with the Kier Construction team to develop a comprehensive coordination plan and cost-effective design solution that helped efficiently deliver the programme schedule. The limited storage space meant Enigma’s scaffolding team on-site were paramount in providing bespoke instructions for material deliveries based on their exact daily requirements.