The Gorebridge Beacon

The Gorebridge Beacon finally opened its doors to the public in November 2018, nearly 10 years after Lee Boyd won a competition to support the Gorebridge Community Development Trust in building a much needed multi-purpose community building in the town. The project struggled post financial crisis to raise the appropriate funds, the first contractor was sacked half way through the project in 2015 and only 8 weeks before the project was due to open in spring 2017, it was subject to an arson attack which set completion back by a further 18 months. The aspiration to provide comfortable, flexible and affordable public facilities in Gorebridge is now being realised. The Beacon is already busy with a huge variety of community activity, is hosting events and providing office space for local organisations.

The new building clad in Scottish larch, sits on an open site alongside Gorebridge Parish Church and looks out across the Pentlands Hills. The design places the building back from the road to create a more relaxed threshold and organises accommodation around a double height circulation space.

The accommodation schedule includes: main hall, Trust office, cafe, nursery, ancillary spaces and a suite of lettable office spaces and meeting room.