Scottish National Galleries

What is Scottish National Galleries?

At C.D.S. (Scotland) Ltd., we take great pride in our contribution to one of Edinburgh’s most prestigious heritage projects – the renovation of the Scottish National Gallery.

The Gallery, whose foundation stone was laid by Prince Albert in 1850, first opened to the public in 1859. Over 160 years later, in October 2020, this iconic landmark underwent major structural renovation – a project that blended modern engineering precision with deep respect for historical preservation.

Scottish National Gallery renovation

Project Background

Originally valued at £18 million and scheduled for completion in 2018, the refurbishment was awarded to Interserve (now Tilbury Douglas) under a £32 million contract. Following significant redesigns and unavoidable delays, the overall cost of the redevelopment rose to £38.63 million, with C.D.S. (Scotland) Ltd. delivering a package of works valued at £3.5 million.

Our Scope of Works

Appointed by Tilbury Douglas, we provided a wide range of specialist services, including:

  • Diamond drilling and precision cutting
  • Controlled demolition
  • Fire-stopping
  • Temporary support works

These works were carried out within one of Scotland’s most significant historic buildings – all while the gallery remained open to the public.

Challenges and Innovation

This was the largest and most complex project our company has ever undertaken. Working directly above the main Glasgow–Edinburgh railway line and beneath a Category A-listed building, our team had to deliver solutions of exceptional technical quality and safety.

As described by the Scottish National Galleries (2023):

Working above the main Glasgow to Edinburgh railway line and excavating beneath a Category-A listed building meant that this was one of the most complex engineering projects ever carried out on a heritage building in Scotland.”

To meet these challenges, we worked closely with Temporary Works Engineers, adapting designs on site to accommodate evolving conditions. We utilised 360° excavators across multiple levels to extract concrete safely from sub-levels, maintaining full structural integrity throughout.

Commitment to Sustainability

Sustainability was at the forefront of our operations. We implemented a dedicated waste management plan to minimise environmental impact and disruption, ensuring efficient, responsible progress from start to finish.

Client Testimonial

Stuart Burgess, Senior Project Manager, Tilbury Douglas:

CDS were instrumental in the success of the Scottish National Gallery project for Tilbury Douglas. Their ability and flexibility to react quickly when situations changed on site was noteworthy. Their technical ability across a variety of demolition and temporary works techniques, as well as safe working practices, are certainly among their core qualities. I would recommend them for any contract without hesitation.”

Project Outcome

The renewed Scottish National Gallery now stands as a testament to innovative engineering, precision, and collaboration – blending modern structural performance with the historic character of one of Scotland’s most significant landmarks. Our successful delivery of the complex “Tunnel Vision” package not only met the project’s demanding technical requirements but also earned industry-wide recognition.

In 2025, C.D.S. (Scotland) Ltd. (Core Drilling Specialists) was awarded the prestigious Diamond Award for the “Tunnel Vision” project – the largest and most intricate undertaking in our company’s history.

Our involvement in the £38.63 million redevelopment spanned multiple work fronts due to the complexity of the alteration works and the many unknowns within the historic structure. The refurbishment was executed in three phases, all while The Scottish National Gallery remained open to the public.

Working in close collaboration with Temporary Works Engineers, our team adapted on-site designs to ensure feasibility and safety. Using 360° excavators across two levels, we successfully lifted and removed concrete from sub-levels to ground level, overcoming significant logistical and structural challenges within the Category-A listed environment.

This award-winning project underscores our capability to deliver innovative solutions, technical excellence, and outstanding results on some of Scotland’s most demanding heritage engineering works.

At C.D.S. (Scotland) Ltd., we are immensely proud of our role in preserving such an important national landmark and are delighted with our contribution to the success of the Scottish National Gallery renovation.

CONTACT FORM

Whether you have potential project or just a general enquiry, fill out our contact form and one of our team will get back to you soon.

    CONTACT FORM

    Whether you have potential project or just a general enquiry, fill out our contact form and one of our team will get back to you soon.

      WHY USE CORE DRILLING SPECIALISTS?

      Core Drilling Specialists Ltd are experts within the concrete drilling and sawing industry , with over 30 years of the company’s experience. C.D.S. provides professional services to both the construction and demolition industries, throughout Scotland and the UK.

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