The Borders Distillery

Description

The first Scotch Whisky distillery in the Scottish Borders since 1837. A careful renovation helping to restore industrial vitality to the region.

BACKGROUND
Located in the middle of Hawick, this new distillery is housed in fully restored Victorian industrial buildings. A landmark building in the centre of town. Great care was taken to preserve the heritage of the site, and many original features were retained.

CHALLENGES
Taking an existing factory site and making it suitable for refurbishment and most importantly, whisky production. Unexpected services and structures had to be dealt with along the way. For example, there was more than one power supply entering the building. Plus, we had to factor in cooling and process water, utilising the nearby River Teviot.

SOLUTIONS
Before starting, we immersed ourselves in the world of distilleries. We did this by taking a trip to Islay off the west coast of Scotland, the famous home of world-class whiskies. Not simply with our firm, but with the extended project team. We also visited and worked closely with the manufactures of the pot stills and process designers. Amongst a long list of solutions, a mezzanine level was built to allow the whisky process to carry on unhindered. Underfloor heating was provided to conceal heat sources and avoid exposed pipework. Where radiators were used, they were historically faithful to the building. Plus, natural ventilation was provided in the distillery.