Customer: Scena Projects

Location: Edinburgh

Requirement:  Quartermile is a £350m, mixed-use development on the 19 acre site of the former Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. It is a joint venture between Gladedale Group and Bank of Scotland Corporate.

Masterplanned by world-renowned architects Foster & Partners, Quartermile will demonstrate how historic buildings can be revitalised and enhanced by sensitively integrating them with contemporary architecture.

Once complete, this new quarter will provide more than 650 homes, over 30,000 sq m of grade-A office space, 8,000 sq m of prime retail space plus restaurants, cafés and shops in pedestrian-friendly surroundings. Almost 500 jobs will be created over the construction phase, with almost 4,000 people employed in the offices, shops and leisure facilities on site.

It was essential that these positive messages were presented to the public in an environment on the site that reflected both high-quality, prestigious nature of the planned complex and demonstrated the contrast between existing and contemporary architecture.

Solution:  Exhibition and display specialists Scena Projects were appointed to create an eye-catching building from which to market the new development. Once a concept had been designed, the company soon found that only Portakabin could provide the type of high-quality, highly glazed structure they were looking for.

Portakabin was able to provide a complete one-stop design, build and installation solution. The company worked closely with Scena Projects, the on-site marketing team, architects and designers to create a unique building to reflect the scale and ambition of the impressive Quartermile Project.

As a result, Portakabin supplied and installed a large single-storey building, comprising six Ultima building modules. The front of the eye-catching building features large glazed walls with automatic glass doors. Inside, there is a large open-plan exhibition, presentation and sales area, as well as a conference room and toilet facilities. The building, which has a 20-year structural warranty, may remain on site until the entire development is completed – which could take up to 7 years.

Alan Robins, Project Manager at Scena Projects, says: "After we had researched several portable building companies, it became obvious that Portakabin was the only company that could cope with this prestige, bespoke project.

"On installation, it became apparent that we had made the right decision, as the Portakabin organisation swung into action – starting with a road closure to allow the six structures to be craned into position. Once these were stabilised and secured, the interior fitting out could begin. Overall we were delighted with our Portakabin contacts and the on-site team."