Carnegie Leisure Centre Wins Saltire Engineering Award

Local MSP Bill Walker has welcomed news that Dunfermline’s refurbished Carnegie Leisure Centre has won a coveted 2012 Saltire Award for Civil Engineering.

Mr Walker, who is also a chartered engineer, said: “The Saltire Society makes annual commendations in recognition of engineering excellence in Scotland, and I’m really pleased they have acknowledged Carnegie Leisure Centre this year.

“The Leisure Centre is an important building historically, presented to the Dunfermline community in 1905 by Andrew Carnegie. During the refurbishment, the engineers, architects and builders managed to preserve the original Edwardian features, while turning the Leisure Centre into a modern, state-of-the-art facility fit for the needs of today’s visitors. The refurbishment has proved a resounding success, with our local newspaper, the Dunfermline Press, recently reporting that an average of a thousand visitors flock to the centre every evening.

“Much has been said about the refurbishment going over its timescale, which was due to structural issues that couldn’t have been identified until work began. I think this Saltire Award is a well-deserved recognition of what the engineers faced and overcame during the refurbishment of this historic building.

“Carnegie Leisure Centre is now a great Dunfermline visitor attraction once more, and it amply serves the needs of the local community. Andrew Carnegie would surely be proud of his successful legacy.”