R and A's Kingsbarns Test Centre wins award

for design and architecture

FROM THE R and A WEBSITE
The R and A’s Equipment Test Centre at Kingsbarns, pictured above, has won an award for the design and architecture of Allan Robertson House.

The Dundee Institute of Architects' annual awards took place in the Invercarse Hotel last week. Three judges – DIA President and Fife Council head of architecture Diarmid McLachlan, Dundee University’s head of architecture Helen O’Connor and The Courier’s property writer Jack McKeown – prepared a shortlist of 20 projects from 96 entries in Tayside and Fife vying for honours in 11 categories.

Allan Robertson House, which was designed and built in partnership with Wellwood Leslie Architects, was awarded Best Commercial design.

World-class golf facility

Utilising the latest technology, the building provides a world class testing and research facility that houses The R and A’s Equipment Standards department under one roof.

The building has been designed and built in an energy efficient, environmentally sensitive manner.
As well as maximising the use of daylight, it incorporates a range of features, such as air source heat pumps, high levels of insulation, LED lighting and uses sustainable materials, including an extensive sedum roof that allows it to sit comfortably in its setting at Kingsbarns.

It also incorporates the same stone used in The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews clubhouse built in 1854 and continues The R and A’s tradition of investing in the quality of its buildings.

Vision realised

Professor Steve Otto, Director – Equipment Standards and Chief Technology Officer, said, “We are delighted to have received this award for the design and build of Allan Robertson House. The Equipment Test Centre is unique among golf facilities around the world and the award is a testament to the ambition of The R and A to build this facility and the excellent work produced by our partners at Wellwood Leslie.”