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Dollar Academy Maguire Building Public Art

Introduction

An opportunity has arisen for an art project as part of a new building project at Dollar Academy. It is intended that the project would be fully integrated into the landscape setting of the new building. The landscape proposals are in draft to allow the landscape architect room to respond to the proposed art work(s) and the artist to have a meaningful input to the wider landscape setting.

Background

Dollar Academy is a co-educational fee-paying school in Clackmannanshire, Central Scotland with approximately 1200 pupils including approximately 290 boarders.

Dollar Academy was established 186 years ago, upon a bequest by John MacNabb, a shipping magnate, as a charitable institution for the education of the poor of the parish. The original listed, neo-classical building was designed by W. H. Playfair as a strong, block-like building seen against the dominating Ochil Hills, with rather delicate plantings of trees around a lawn.

New buildings were added to the school grounds throughout the 20th century, beginning with the Dewar Building to the north of the Playfair building, and most recently the Gibson Building between them. There are now also a number of sports buildings along Back Road.

The school grounds are today laid out in wide sweeping grass playing fields lined with avenues of mature trees and interspersed with mature single specimen trees and groups. The variety and exotic nature of these trees suggests that they may be part of an arboretum dating back to the original days of the school.

New building for sports, arts and drama

The school has recently gained planning permission for a new Sports, Arts and Drama Building to the north west of the Playfair Building, adjacent to the existing games hall. This building will introduce a wing which embraces the games pitches and will complete an open "quadrangle" to the west of the Playfair Building formed by the buildings along Back Road. It will contain accommodation for grounds staff and equipment, changing rooms, a new sports hall, art studios, a small theatre and a function room.

The building will be finished mainly in cream wet dash render, buff sandstone ashlar bands, and have dark grey windows throughout. There are also areas finished in rust red render and in larch cladding stained in a dark oak colour.

Construction work on site has already started and it is anticipated that the building will be completed in June 2005.

Design brief

The school is committed to commission a work of art in accordance with the Clackmannanshire Council’s ‘Percent for Art’ policy. This work of art is to be incorporated into the landscape surrounding the new building. It is hoped that a conceptual work of art work will:

  • Work with the collective and cumulative design of the school;
  • Refer to the setting of the school in its use of materials;
  • Respect the existing patterns of use;
  • Add significance to the landscape design and stimulate reflection on the history and purpose of the school;

It is anticipated that the artist will consult with the school, the architect and, particularly, with the landscape architect. It is envisaged that the art work will comprise a series of elements or perhaps a linear feature and make use of landscape elements functionally required in the landscape design such as the detailed design of hard landscaping and lighting design.

Design constraints

The artist should recognise the following design constraints:

  • Art work is to be sited within the context of the landscape proposals
  • Art work should not interfere with the use of areas used as playing fields.
  • Form, scale, character and colour of the art work must respect its setting in the grounds of a Category A listed building.
  • All work requires to be designed to be robust because of the proximity with games pitches and risk of vandalism.
  • Artists should consider access to the site for people with disabilities.
  • All work should conform to relevant health and safety regulations and any structures requiring a building warrant will require certification by a structural engineer. Art work must not increase the risk of staff or pupils being injured.
  • The finished work should require minimum maintenance and the artist will be expected to provide a maintenance schedule for the work, which preferably should be capable of evolving as a consequence to it exposure to the elements.

Design proposal requirements

Design proposals may form the basis of an exhibition for public display, and the client should like to retain them for 18 months. They should be submitted in the form of:

  • scale maquette(s) and/or drawings and written proposal;
  • additional photographic material and supporting sketches may be included;
  • drawings/ and or writing should clearly illustrate how the overall design will be developed;
  • materials, techniques and methods of fabrication and installation (especially site access) should be specified

Selection process

The artist will be selected by interview by a selection panel including representatives from Clackmannanshire Council, Dollar Academy, Alca Design Ltd, and Fiona Fisher Landscape Designs.

Provisional budget

Total busget - £20,000 (Upper ceiling based on integration with landscape work, to include materials, manufacture, installation and engineer’s fees)

Programme

  • November 22nd, 2004 - invitation sent to selected artists requesting notes of interest
  • December 6th, 2004 - return of notes of interest including CVs, portfolios etc.
  • December 24th, 2004 – inform 3 selected artists of inclusion in ideas competition
  • January 31st, 2005 – return of artists’ ideas for selection
  • February 2005 – each of the 3 selected artists receive £300.00 participation fee
  • February 2005- selection and appointment of artist by panel representing Dollar Academy, Design Consultants (Alca Design Ltd. and Fiona Fisher Landscape Designs) and Clackmannanshire Council
  • March 2005- Develop ideas for art work(s)
  • April/May - collaboration with Landscape Architect on setting for art works
  • June – preparation of contract documents and tender process for landscape work including specialist installation requirements for art work(s)
  • July/August 2005 - production of art work and implementation of landscape work

Contacts

  • Rosa McPherson, Public Arts Officer, Clackmannanshire Council 01259 452487
  • Justin Wilkes, Bursar, Dollar Academy, 01259 740515
  • Fiona Fisher, Landscape Architect, Fiona Fisher landscape Designs 01259 743266
  • Hans Grabowski, Architect, Alca Design Ltd., 01738 450470

Contact information

For further information about this page please contact:

Cultural Planner, Cultural and Community Services
Alva CAP, 153 West Stirling Street, Alva
Tel: 01259 763940 / 450000 Fax: 01259 760546
Email:

Or use the on-line contact form.