The £39 million Forfar Community Campus has been hailed as an “outstanding building” after being selected for recognition by disabled access campaigners.
The Kirriemuir Road campus, which opened earlier this year and includes a new Forfar Academy as well as leisure facilities to replace Forfar swimming pool and Lochside leisure centre, has been chosen by Angus Access Panel as the winner of the 2017 Rod MacFarlane award.
The accolade is named in memory of former Tayside Regional Councillor Rod MacFarlane who, until his death in 1994, was a dedicated campaigner for disabled people and was chairman of Forfar and District Access for Disabled Trust as well as the first chair of Angus Access Panel.
Presented annually, the award highlights buildings in Angus that demonstrate positive efforts being made to encourage the inclusion of disabled people, with four facilities nominated this year.
A highly commended award was presented to Warddykes primary school in Arbroath, another recent addition to the Angus school estate.
Chief judge and chairperson of the Angus Access Panel, Agnes Mackay, said: “Forfar Community Campus is an outstanding building, which is well thought out and goes to great lengths to provide accessibility for all those who will use it.
“There is a varied mix of spaces available to pupils and the public, with level-controlled access for the different groups.”
Ian Buchanan of Disability Equality Scotland, who helped to judge this year’s award added: “The building benefits from wide corridors and doorways and good signage throughout.
“It has lift access throughout and the use of colours on each floor is creative. It is also pleasing to see height adjustable workstations in place. The toilet facilities are outstanding and there are three Changing Places toilets located within the building.
“Leisure facilities are superb and highlight perfectly the way in which the design of equipment and facilities can maximise accessibility,” he said.
Project manager Dave Smith said: “This award comes as recognition of the partnership working between Hub East Central Scotland, Robertson Construction, the design team and Angus Council to ensure that Forfar Community Campus is accessible to all.”
“Accessibility was a key consideration of this £39-million project,” he added.
