PROJECT STORY
The challenge
As one of the oldest scientific gardens in Britain, The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh needed repair and refurbishment work to ensure its conservation work could continue.
Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
Protecting the future of Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden
The solution
We are helping to deliver The Edinburgh Biomes project; new world-leading facilities uniting research, horticulture and education to protect globally important plant species.
The impact
This will provide a safe environment for the Garden’s collection of more than 13,500 plant species and a spectacular visitor experience for the public to enjoy for generations to come.
13,500
plant species protected
12%
carbon reduction
1
world class facility
The challenge
Plants are an essential part of our eco-system. From climate regulation and pollination, to providing food, shelter and raw materials for clothes and medicine, they provide an important resource that we need to preserve. Unfortunately, at least 25% of the 400,000 plant species in the world are now threatened with extinction, and it’s up to institutions like the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to play a central role in their conservation and protection. However, as one of the oldest scientific gardens in Britain, the need for extensive repair and refurbishment work was putting the future of this national institution – and its existing plant collection - at risk.
The solution
To protect its unique and globally important plant collection, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RGBE) launched an ambitious and visionary new project called Edinburgh Biomes. Along with the significant refurbishment and rebuilding of the Grade A listed Victorian Palm Houses and the 1960’s public and research Glasshouses, the plans will deliver new world-leading facilities bringing together RBGE’s research, horticulture, education and infrastructure. This will continue to provide a safe environment for the Garden’s collection of more than 13,500 plant species and protect its work long into the future. However, as one of the most ambitious projects in the Garden’s history, RGBE needed to bring in specialist support. This is where Arcadis came in.
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We are providing Programme Management, Cost and Commercial Management, BIM, Environmental and Transport services for the Edinburgh Biomes and glasshouse refurbishment projects. Activity will be staged over several years to allow for the decanting and relocation of seasonally sensitive plants, with the first phase including creating a new, state-of-the-art plant health suite, which will provide a safe environment for propagation. The first phase will also include a new, efficient, eco-friendly and sustainable energy centre which, in line with the Garden’s ethos of conservation and sustainability, will feature ground source heat pumps and low-heat-loss pipework. This will reduce the carbon footprint of the Glasshouses by 12%.
The impact
We will be helping RGBE ensure that its plant collection continues to thrive, as well as providing a spectacular visitor experience for the public to enjoy for generations to come.
