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Open Door Project

The Kirk // Open Door Project

The congregation of Penicuik North Kirk had realised in the early 1990's that their church building was not providing them with the facilities they required. The church supported a vibrant mixed age congregation with a large proportion of families. A considerable number of groups, from Guides to Boys Brigade struggled to obtain sufficient accommodation within the adjacent 'North Hall' while the church building was cold, poorly lit and only used on Sunday mornings.

Early in 1997 the Congregational Board of Penicuik North Kirk appointed a small group of members to take forward the long awaited refurbishment of their church building. The board handed them the 'baton' of responsibility and hence the Baton Group was founded to oversee the whole process from inception to completion. The group approached the Church of Scotland to obtain advice regarding suitable architectural firms for this work. Two appropriate companies were selected and interviewed by the group and Edinburgh architects, Burnett Pollock Associates were appointed to lead the design team in August 1997.

Following a number of congregation consultations, a wish list of improvements was drawn up by the group. These included full disabled access, removal of timber pews to allow increased flexibility, new heating and a lighting system to allow as many different lighting levels as possible. The primary object of the project was to create a more welcoming church where the main front doors of the church could be left open and it was possible to view into the whole church from the outside. This gave rise to the refurbishment becoming known as 'The Open Door Project' to open the church building to a wider percentage of the local community.

The architect was asked to prepare proposals and costings based on this wish list. Firstly the need for flexibility required the existing sloping timber floor to be levelled and pews to be removed. The opening up of this cramped front of church area was achieved by the removal of the rear load bearing wall to the worship area and forming of an extended welcome area below the existing balcony. Due to the levelling of the floor of the main worship area and requirement to retain the existing main door to the church a split level floor was inserted with a new free standing steel steps and steel ramp to provide disabled access from one level to the other.

The existing steps to the front of the church were remodelled to allow for disabled ramp access to the front door retaining, where possible, existing stone features. The external area to the front of the church was also reslabbed with new bollards to prevent vehicular access. An existing understair cupboard was converted to a new ambulant disabled toilet with baby changing facilities.

As well as reflooring the main worship area the existing timber dado panelling was replaced. This timber along with the new flooring was stained and varnished to close match the existing timber within the church which was to remain. The worship area was also completely redecorated with a dramatic new modern colour scheme.

The rear area of the church was also extensively upgraded. New male, female and disabled toilets were created to provide modern levels of provision. The existing kitchen was enlarged and provided with modern kitchen units, cooker, fridge freezer and dishwasher.

In order to facilitate a new heating system a new boiler room was constructed to the rear of the church. The heating system was designed to operate seven days a week keeping the church continually warm allowing maximum flexibility of use.

New power and lighting systems were installed throughout the building. Twelve new feature lights within the main worship area were complemented by high level floodlight to provide general lighting. Lighting options were increased by specifying flood lamps with separately switched uplighters to provide effect lighting of the ceiling. Single plane uplighters were also installed to the window cills to provide dramatic feature lighting of the window ingoes.

Drawings and three dimensional images were prepared by the architects and presented by the Baton Group to the congregation with almost unanimous agreement that the works should proceed. Considerable effort was put into fund raising by the congregation and the Baton Group investigated if grant assistance was available.

Funding was made available to the church through the landfill tax by Midlothian Council which contributed to the costs for the heating and lighting systems. A loan was also secured from The Church of Scotland Central Fabric Fund.

Six contractors were selected to tender based on track record and the churches desire to use a local contractor employing local people if possible. Tender documents were issued, prices received and in April 2001, Robert Rollo & Sons of Cockenzie, East Lothian was appointed to carry out the building works. A contract period of six months resulted in the project being complete in December 2001.

The church was re-opened to the congregation and was met by considerable acclaim both for the new design and the modern colour scheme. A service of thanksgiving and celebration was held by the congregation who had been worshipping within a local school during the works. The same weekend the church was opened to members of the public during which over 1000 people visited the newly refurbished church.

Five years on the refurbished building is regularly made available to the wider community and has hosted ceilidhs, concerts and seminars making full use of its flexible design.

Members of the Design Team

Architect - Burnett Pollock Associates
Structural Engineer - Fergus Gillies Associates
Services Engineer- Ian Low Associates
Quantity Surveyor - Pottie Wilson