Aberdeen City Council has confirmed it is prepared to step in and carry out urgent repairs to the B-listed building at 28–32 Marischal Street if needed, with costs recovered from the owner.
A welcome step — now the priority is swift action to prevent further damage.
📸 Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson
Reminder: The last event in the AHSS Forth & Borders Group Lecture Series is coming up this Monday, 13th April.
We'll be joined by architect Thomas Hamilton and engineer Dominic Echlin, who will discuss building challenges behind the new Scottish Galleries at the National Gallery: buff.ly/Pr3CLaY
Speaker Spotlight: Joining Dominic Echlin as speaker at our next lecture is Thomas Hamilton.
Thomas is Director at Hamilton Hay Von Jonker and has designed and directed several high-profile developments across all sectors including museums, galleries, and visitor facilities: buff.ly/Pr3CLaY
Speaker Spotlight: Dominic Echlin is a Chartered Structural Engineer and Director at Narro – Consulting Structural and Civil Engineers.
His professional focus lies in architectural engineering, complex building pathology, and conservation engineering.
🎟️ buff.ly/Pr3CLaY
New opinion piece by our Chair, Jocelyn Cunliffe, calling on @edinburghwh.bsky.social to rethink support for a capsule hostel in Edinburgh’s New Town.
🔗 buff.ly/bcVoVdh
AHSS has raised urgent concerns about the condition of the B-listed 28–32 Marischal Street in Aberdeen.
A partial roof collapse is allowing water and birds into the building, accelerating damage.
buff.ly/gsJWEHA
Our next and final event is coming up soon!
Dominic Echlin, structural engineer, and Thomas Hamilton, architect, will share some of the challenges associated with the construction of the new Scottish Galleries at the National Gallery of Scotland: buff.ly/tRkklyx
AHSS has objected to plans to demolish the former Police Scotland HQ in Aberdeen.
They highlight a lack of evidence for claims the building has “no merit”, question opaque “soft marketing”, and raise concerns about embodied carbon and policy compliance.
Read our letter: buff.ly/NAF6yh4
The last lecture in the AHSS Forth & Borders Group Winter Lecture Series is coming up!
Extending the National Gallery of Scotland with Dominic Echlin & Thomas Hamilton
🗓️ 13 April 2026
⏰️ 6.30- 8.30pm
📍 Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL
🎟️ buff.ly/tRkklyx
🚨 Reminder: Heritage with Purpose: Adaptive Reuse and Community-Centred Design
Sarah Jane Storrie will share insights gained from over twenty years of experience in the adaptive reuse of historic structures.
🗓️ Thurs, 19 Mar
📍 St Andrews West Church & Renfield Centre and online
🎟️ buff.ly/ajiDsDJ
🌟 Speaker Spotlight: Sarah Jane Storrie 🌟
Sarah Jane co-founded Studio SJM Architects to elevate people's experience of space, with a goal to create buildings and reimagine spaces to be beneficial, purposeful and a joy to use.
Book now for Sarah Jane's upcoming lecture: buff.ly/WarntVh
Following the devastating fire at Union St / Gordon St in Glasgow, AHSS has written to GCC urging them to seek specialist engineering advice and assess whether the remaining street facades can be retained.
More on our advocacy for Scotland’s historic buildings:
www.ahss.org.uk/news-events/...
Tomorrow! Last chance to book:
Architecture and Urbanism in late Georgian Edinburgh with speaker John Lowrey
🗓️ Monday 9 March 2026
📍 Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL and online via Zoom
🎟️ £6 online/in-person | £2 students
🔗 Book now: buff.ly/M3zifhR
🚨 Reminder: Coming up next week!
🏛️ Architecture and Urbanism in late Georgian Edinburgh with speaker John Lowrey
🗓️ Monday 9 March 2026
📍 Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL and online via Zoom
🎟️ £6 online/in-person | £2 students
🔗 Book here: buff.ly/M3zifhR
🌟 Speaker Spotlight 🌟
John Lowrey is a senior lecturer in architectural history. He joins us on 9th March to discuss Architecture and Urbanism in late Georgian Edinburgh: buff.ly/B2tZQZ6
📸 The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art
Next up in the AHSS Strathclyde Group Winter Lecture Series:
Heritage with Purpose: Adaptive Reuse and Community-Centred Design, with Sarah Jane Storrie
🗓️ 19 March 2026
📍 St Andrews West Church & Renfield Centre, Glasgow
⏰️ 7:30 – 9:30pm
🎟️ £6 online/in-person | £2 students: buff.ly/va5EmB8
Coming up next in the AHSS Forth & Borders Group Winter Lecture Series:
Architecture and Urbanism in late Georgian Edinburgh with speaker John Lowrey
🗓️ Mon 9 Mar 2026
📍 Augustine United Church, Edinburgh and via Zoom
🎟️ £6 | £2 students
🔗 Book your tickets here: buff.ly/B2tZQZ6
🚨 Don't miss out!
The Strathclyde Group Winter Lecture Series continues tomorrow, Thursday 19th February!
📢 Speaker: Gordon Urquhart
🗓️ Topic: The Ironwork of James Sellars, Architect
🎟️ For more info and booking: buff.ly/wWWLQ8A
🚨 Reminder: The Ironwork of James Sellars, Architect
Join us to explore the “fertile mind and facile pencil” of Sellars with speaker Gordon Urquhart.
📍 St Andrews West Church & Renfield Centre, Glasgow and online
⏰️ 7.30pm
🎟️ buff.ly/wWWLQ8A
Upcoming event!
Gordon R Urquhart joins us to explore the ironwork designs of Victorian architect James Sellars:
🗓️ 19th Feb
⏰️ 7.30pm
📍 Glasgow & online
💷 £6 / £2 students
🔗 Book here: buff.ly/wWWLQ8A
⏰ Coming up on Monday!
Rescuing Buildings at Risk in Northern Ireland
A timely talk on saving historic buildings — and what Scotland can learn from NI’s experience.
📅 Mon 9 Feb | 6.30pm
📍 Edinburgh + online
🎟️ £6 / £2 students
🔗 buff.ly/83mCkYF
The Ironwork of James Sellars, Architect
Historian & author Gordon R Urquhart explores the ironwork designs of Victorian Glasgow — and the overlooked relationship between architects and iron foundries.
📅 Thu 19 Feb 2026 | 7.30pm
📍 Glasgow + online
🎟️ £6 / £2 students | £25 series
🔗 buff.ly/IwVIT4i
Karen Latimer OBE has spent 40+ years in architectural heritage and was awarded an OBE for services to heritage.
On Monday 9th, Karen joins us to share lessons from rescuing buildings at risk in Northern Ireland — and what Scotland can learn.
buff.ly/83mCkYF
We have objected to proposals to demolish the Cat B former Glasite Chapel in Galashiels.
Built in 1842, this rare building has been at risk for decades due to neglect & no evidence has been submitted to justify demolition.
Demolition here would reward neglect.
buff.ly/Egsx1iz
Join us for “Rescuing Buildings at Risk in Northern Ireland” with Karen Latimer OBE (Hearth). 🌍🏛️
🗓️ 9 Feb 2026, 6:30 pm
📍 Edinburgh + online
🎟️ Book now buff.ly/83mCkYF
Help shape heritage casework in Scotland.
AHSS Forth & Borders is recruiting a Cases Panel Secretary & Convener — an impactful voluntary role with training and modest payment.
📧 nationaloffice@ahss.org.uk
⏰ 31 Jan 2026
📸 Tom Parnell
An application to list Argyle House, researched by Docomomo Scotland and submitted jointly with Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland and The Twentieth Century Society, has been accepted by Historic Environment Scotland.
📄 View the case: buff.ly/aEiduwj
📸 Tom Parnell
🚨 THIS WEEK! Join us on Thursday 22nd for our next lecture, with Chris Bragg of Sowne of Organe, exploring how 19th-century organ design has shaped modern conservation.
🗓 Thu 22 Jan, 7.30pm
📍 St Andrews West Church, Glasgow
💻 Also via Zoom
🎟 £6 / £2 students
🔗 buff.ly/BnDd92F
AHSS Forth & Borders is seeking a Cases Panel Secretary & Convener.
Looking for someone organised, IT-literate, and interested in heritage casework. Training provided + modest monthly payment.
📅 Deadline: 31 January 2026
🔗 buff.ly/GdfIZN7
📸 Tom Parnell
Join us for our next lecture: 'Tensions in visual organ design in the 19th-century UK', with speaker Chris Bragg of Sowne of Organe.
🗓️ Thurs 22nd Jan, 7.30pm
📍 St Andrews West Church, Glasgow
💻 Also streamed live via Zoom
🎟 £6 / £2 students: buff.ly/clPnfb3
📸 Crichton Collegiate Church