Designing a new piece of history for a 200-year-old institute in Scotland’s heritage

DSSR provided full Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health (MEP) design duties for the creation of a new visitor centre and VIP tasting suite at Glencadam Distillery. The design has transformed existing buildings to incorporate a new and unique tour, whisky tasting area, whisky lounge, café, function suite and shop – all designed to celebrate the legacy of Glencadam, one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland.

In terms of MEP features, the visitor centre utilises comfort cooling and heating via a variable refrigerant volume (VRV) system, and benefits from mechanical ventilation via heat recovery unit (HRU) systems. The kitchen facilities have also been provided with mechanical ventilation via an extract fan system, including an odour extract system with make-up air via a supply fan system.

The scope of our commission included energy compliance modelling for the new construction, together with site infrastructure consultancy.

Whisky has been distilled at this Angus Dundee Distillers site for almost 200 years. To showcase the history of the distillery, the new visitor centre was created, enhancing the visitor experience. The designs retain the original sandstone facade of the existing buildings, together with other integral features that date back almost 200 years, and blend this with some innovative new architecture. The site features a fully operational internal water wheel, and witnessing it in operation will be part of the future visitor tours.

Beyond this initial phase, there will also be newly designed offices, meeting rooms and a tasting lab for the distillery team, all located in the original floor maltings, which are no longer in operation.