A leading Scottish architect, who has called for a “bolder” plan to rejuvenate Aberdeen’s Union Street, has joined Aberdeen-based practice, Halliday Fraser Munro.
Malcolm Fraser, who recently led a Scottish Government review on breathing new life into Scotland’s town and city centres, joins the firm following the shock closure of his own practice earlier this year.
At an event in Aberdeen last year, Mr Fraser called for a “bigger and brasher and more confident” approach to civic planning in the Granite city.
David Halliday, managing director, Halliday Fraser Munro, said: “Malcolm has been a leading force in Scottish architecture for many years. We are thrilled that he is joining us as we seek to strengthen our position across Scotland. He will complement our existing pool of talented architects and ensure that we continue to raise design standards in the country.
“His acknowledged authority in masterplanning, cultural renewal and regeneration work, combined with a consistent philosophical approach to the integrity of the built environment will bring an added dimension to Halliday Fraser Munro.”
The award-winning Edinburgh-born architect joins the practice this week. In August, Mr Fraser was forced to put his own 22-year old practice into liquidation after struggling to make the business profitable.
Mr Fraser said: “I am looking forward to taking the creativity and integrity for which we were renowned to a firm which shares my ethos and passion and is in a strong financial position with the necessary resources to deliver major projects.”
Mr Fraser is credited with some of Edinburgh’s best known modern buildings, including Dance Base in the Grassmarket – for which he won the Stirling Prize and the Doolan award in 2002 – the Scottish Poetry Library and the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile.
His renewal projects include the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland production facilities in Glasgow, the historic Bank of Scotland headquarters, Dovecot Studios, the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon for Edinburgh University and the Burgh Halls in Linlithgow.
His regeneration work has included masterplanning and community engagement in Kircudbright, Alloa, Berwick-on-Tweed, Stromness and Stornoway.
Established in 1993, Halliday Fraser Munro has a staff of 75, with with offices in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast. With a varied experience of residential, commercial, leisure and education sectors, the firm has been involved in prestigious projects across Scotland including the Rowett Institute of Nutrition in Aberdeen, Alford Community Campus and The Gyle shopping centre in Edinburgh.