HRH the Princess Royal will today perform the official opening in Dunfermline of the new £2.9 million headquarters of the four British-based Carnegie charitable trusts.
The Carnegie UK Trust, the Carnegie Dunfermline & Hero Fund Trusts and the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland have been re-located to their new bespoke building by Page and Park Architects on the northern rim of Pittencrieff Park which the Scots-American steel king, Andrew Carnegie, gifted to the people of his native city in 1903.
Andrew Carnegie House – named after the trusts’ founder and the father of modern philanthropy - will develop the relationship between a cutting-edge community-based trust and sister trusts engaged in higher education, research and policy advocacy, as well as support for injured heroes or their surviving dependants. Co-location costs have been largely offset by the proceeds of the sale of the trusts’ period headquarters in central Dunfermline.
The design of the new eco-friendly HQ reflects the “strategic and dynamic vision” of the work of the Carnegie trusts in Britain and Ireland as they confront the philanthropic challenges of the 21st century. Glasgow based Page\Park Architects have described their design concept, with its curved timber and glass elevations, as a “pavilion in the park.” Sustainable features include ground-source eco-thermal heating, which is carbon neutral with reversible heating/cooling options.
Chairman of the Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trustees, Angus Hogg, said: “While retaining our distinct remits, we see the coming together of the Carnegie ‘family’ as an opportunity for closer synergies between the trusts while delivering economies of scale to maximise the funding benefits for the people of Scotland, the UK and Ireland.”
Sir David Edward, chairman of the Universities Trust, said: “We are delighted to be opening the new century with the other Carnegie trusts in this remarkable new building. Our trust has supported the Scottish universities and their students for over a century. Indeed, in the early 1900s, the trust contributed twice as much as the government!
“Things are very different now, but our aim remains the same - to promote excellence in the work of the universities and, in Carnegie’s words, to give support to those who are qualified and deserving, industrious and ambitious.”
Tony Pender, chair of the Carnegie UK Trust, added, “The move into these very attractive and efficient new offices, alongside our sister trusts, is a re-affirmation that Dunfermline remains an excellent location from which to carry out our work throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.
“Meeting near Andrew Carnegie’s birthplace is also a constant reminder of the responsibility that the trust has to pursue his commitment to greater social justice.”
Scottish Architecture Links:
Buildings and Places - Andrew Carnegie House
