Aberdeen’s much-loved public and historic buildings – including Aberdeen Art Gallery, the Arts Centre, Central Library and the Maritime Museum – are set to benefit from a major package of repairs and improvements as part of a £27.164million investment programme.
The works form part of Aberdeen City Council’s Condition & Suitability Programme, which will run over the next three financial years and focuses on repairing or upgrading Council-owned buildings that have been prioritised for attention. The programme was approved yesterday at a meeting of the Council’s Finance and Resources Committee.
Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said the three-year plan underlined the local authority’s commitment to protecting and enhancing key civic assets.
“The Council is committed to investing in its buildings,” he said. “The work carried out through the three-year programme agreed today means many more people will get to use and enjoy buildings including the Art Gallery, Arts Centre, Central Library, and Maritime Museum.”
Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan emphasised the importance of maintaining public access and ensuring the buildings remain welcoming and safe for residents and visitors alike.
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“These buildings are regularly used by the public and it is vital that we continue to invest to ensure our buildings are accessible and open to the public,” he said. “These repairs and improvements will ensure the buildings are fit for use for many years to come.”
A wide range of projects are included within the programme, spanning cultural venues, libraries, memorial spaces and key civic buildings across the city. Among the planned works are:
- Aberdeen Art Gallery: Replacement of mechanical and electrical equipment, including a humidifier upgrade, alongside improvements to building management system hardware and front-end controls to support the care of collections and visitor comfort.
- Aberdeen Crematorium: Removal of an uneven flagstone path and replacement with a tar surface to improve safety and accessibility for visitors.
- Arts Centre: Repair and maintenance to the clockface, stonework, timber surrounds and leadwork on the clock tower, preserving the building’s historic character.
- Central Library: Replacement of boilers to improve heating efficiency and reliability in this key community facility.
- David Welch Winter Gardens: Repairs to corroded underground pipework to protect the glasshouse environment and ensure the gardens can continue to flourish.
- Maritime Museum: Upgrade of the public address system, along with CCTV improvements and external lighting to enhance security and the visitor experience.
- Mastrick Library: Accessibility upgrades to make the building easier to use for all members of the community.
- Tolbooth Museum: Installation of new heating and ventilation, as well as new fire and intruder alarm systems, supporting both preservation of collections and visitor safety.
- Town House, Castle Street: Repairs to the Bon Accord room ceiling within the historic civic building.
- Town House Extension, Broad Street: Works to external decorative tiles to preserve the building’s appearance.
- Various locations: Rebuilding of cemetery boundary walls, helping to protect and maintain important memorial grounds across the city.
The Council’s investment is aimed at safeguarding Aberdeen’s built heritage and ensuring key public spaces remain accessible, efficient and welcoming for future generations.
