Campsie Memorial Hall in Lennoxtown has been transformed from a complex, ageing Victorian community building into a modern, accessible and energy-efficient civic facility. Delivered for East Dunbartonshire Council through hub West Scotland, with ECD Architects as architect and lead consultant, the project refurbished the original 1860s stone halls while replacing a later extension with a new, highly insulated timber addition.
Narro provided structural and civil engineering services, supporting the design team in balancing heritage retention, low-carbon retrofit principles and the practical demands of a fully upgraded community venue. The engineering approach focused on retaining and improving the existing building fabric wherever feasible, while enabling new layouts, services and access improvements that would support the Hall’s long-term use.
The existing Hall presented a series of structural constraints typical of historic community buildings. The original stone halls, dating from 1866, were to be retained, including the stage and principal community spaces, while the building’s poor thermal performance, fragmented internal arrangement and limited accessibility had to be addressed.
A key challenge was the building’s historic layout, which had been arranged across seven different levels. This created significant accessibility barriers and complicated the integration of new circulation, a platform lift, ramped access and upgraded back-of-house facilities. Narro’s work supported the rationalisation of the building to three levels, helping create a more inclusive arrangement while retaining the character and function of the original halls.
Narro reviewed the capacity of the existing foundations, undercroft walls and timber roof structure to understand how they could support the refurbished spaces, the new extension and new building services. Narro’s design input centred on careful appraisal, targeted strengthening and close coordination with the wider design team. During the early design stages, the engineering strategy sought to reuse as much of the existing substructure as possible, including the original foundations and undercroft walls. This required investigation and checking to confirm how the retained structure would respond to new load paths and revised layouts.
The introduction of decarbonised heating and ventilation systems added further engineering complexity. New air source heat pumps, MVHR equipment and associated ductwork had to be integrated into an existing building with timber roof structures and limited space for plant. Narro carried out structural checks and coordination to support the placement of heavy plant, including the eventual positioning of equipment on a new roof area, while accounting for the loads imposed by large ventilation ducts serving the main hall.
The replacement extension also required a structural approach that complemented the retained stone halls. The new timber extension improved the building’s thermal performance and supported the Hall’s renewed civic presence, while the structural design enabled a more coherent, accessible arrangement of spaces across the building.
The completed refurbishment has safeguarded Campsie Memorial Hall as a valued community asset while improving comfort, accessibility and energy performance. The project has delivered refurbished main and lesser halls, improved storage and support spaces, step-free access, a new entrance and a more legible internal arrangement.
For Narro, the project demonstrates the value of engineering-led retrofit: understanding the existing structure, retaining viable fabric, integrating low-carbon services and enabling contemporary accessibility standards within a historic building. The result is a more sustainable and flexible venue that can continue serving Lennoxtown for years to come.
