East Calder Partnership Centre

Collective Architecture has recently completed a new £3.5m Partnership Centre in East Calder, for West Lothian Council. The Centre brings together community services which include; the East Calder Community Library, Community Education & Resource Centre, Local Council meeting rooms, multi-functional community halls and changing facilities for local sports clubs including East Calder Community Football Club.

Building proposals were developed in parallel with a master-planning strategy, which aimed to establish a green link through the town centre. The two primary building uses of the library and community multi-purpose halls create distinct building forms which emulate local vernacular forms.

The Centre accommodates a wide range of community activities. This includes a pre-school playgroup and children’s breakfast club, 50+ group, Judo, Yoga, Needlecraft, Youth Work, Sure Start, Advice Shop, Camcorder Group and Old Time Dancing. The local community have fully embraced the building which is constantly active throughout the whole year.

A controlled palette of materials has been chosen in response to the building’s context.   A strong multi grey/brown facing brick compliments the local stone, alongside areas of pre-oxidised copper whichallow the building form to stand proud and become a new beacon for East Calder.