As part of a major investment in Scotland’s ferry infrastructure, the Brodick Ferry Terminal project delivered a modern transportation hub with a new terminal building, pier, expanded marshalling area, bus bays, and parking facilities.
Challenge
The 1970s-era facilities required significant upgrades to accommodate growing operational demands while maintaining Brodick’s role as a key transportation gateway. New terminal, pier, parking, and marshalling facilities needed to improve ferry operations while responding sensitively to the character of the surrounding townscape.
Solution
Our design incorporated red sandstone with grey metal roof elements to complement the existing townscape. Gently curving lines and varied window sizes break down the building’s overall scale using traditional elements within a contemporary expression. Dredging for the new pier removed approximately 24,000 metric tons of material, most of which was used to create the marshalling area.
Outcome
The new terminal improves the efficiency of ferry services while reinforcing a strong sense of arrival and departure for the Isle of Arran. The remaining 6,000 metric tons of dredged material was provided to the community to replenish a local beach affected by erosion and sand loss.
Red sandstone, grey metal roofing, and gently curved forms complement the character of Brodick while establishing a contemporary identity
Serving one of Scotland’s busiest ferry routes, the terminal was designed to create a memorable civic gateway to the Isle of Arran.
Brodick is the main town on the Isle of Arran located off the west coast of Scotland. The ferry route that serves the island is one of the two busiest in Scotland with several sailings per day. The existing 1970’s era facilities required significant upgrades, part of a major investment to secure a safe, efficient and reliable ferry complex. The project involved extensive stakeholder and public consultation encompassing a new modern terminal building with bus bays and parking facilities, a new pier and an increased marshalling area on reclaimed land.
NORR’s design for the new, larger contemporary building incorporated red sandstone with grey metal roof elements to complement the existing townscape. Gently curving lines and a variety of window sizes break down the building’s overall scale using traditional elements within a contemporary expression. Dredging for the new pier removed approximately 24,000 metric tons of material, most of which was used to create the marshalling area. The remaining 6,000 metric tons was given to the community free of charge to infill their beach, which had suffered erosion and loss of sand over many years. Not only does the new terminal improve the efficiency of the ferry service, it creates a new civic gateway for the beautiful Isle of Arran and conveys a tangible sense of arrival and departure.
