An Ayrshire firm of building contractors ended the year on a triumphant note after receiving recognition for work carried out at an Aberdeen shopping centre.

At the recent British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) Gold Awards, the Scottish Retail Property Limited Partnership (a joint venture between Land Securities and British Land) achieved a commendation for the £2 million refurbishment to Aberdeen's St Nicholas Centre – work which was carried out by building contractors William Skinner & Son, based at St Quivox in Ayr.

The commendation was awarded in the Best In-Town Retail Scheme (under 300,000 sq ft) category.

The exclusive Gold Awards are leading accolades within the shopping centre and retail destination industry. They reward excellence in retail-led developments and recognise projects that generate improvements in the quality of the built environment. The awards also recognise stores and operations within that environment.

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The St Nicholas Centre and its sister centre the Bon Accord form the established prime shopping location for the City of Aberdeen. The St Nicholas Centre is a busy covered shopping centre leading from Aberdeen’s main street (Union Street) to the Bon Accord Centre.

The St Nicholas Centre has circa 13 million footfall per annum which equates to an average weekly footfall of 260,000. It contains 25 shop units within approx 100,000 sq ft.

Construction began in 1983 with the centre's doors opening 1985.

Around 20 years after the centre opening, it was decided that the centre would benefit from a refurbishment to give it a fresh and modern new look to complement its array of vibrant fashion retailers.

The project comprised of the refurbishment of the shopping mall common areas (805 square metres), (8665 square feet.), including the renewal of floor surfaces, pilaster finishes, ceiling finishes, lighting features, upgrading the sprinkler system, replacing entrance screens and doors, installing new entrance signage/canopies and mechanical & electrical upgrades.

The concept for the refresh scheme is taken from geological formations and the use of light to create a space that is inviting, fresh and contemporary; encouraging shoppers to increase their dwell time within the centre.

William Skinner & Son managing director Sandy Cunningham said: "Retail refurbishment has always been one of our company's traditional core specialisations, and we are proud to add the St Nicholas Centre in Aberdeen to our portfolio of successfully completed projects and to have our work recognised by the British Council of Shopping Centres."

In March 2004, Land Securities entered into a joint venture with British Land to create the Scottish Retail Property Limited Partnership which now includes its joint Aberdeen holdings.

(GK/BMcC)