The Scots College has reached a major milestone in the construction of the John Cunningham Student Centre, with the final external piece of the eastern side of the building put into place – an impressive sandstone lion sculpture.
The formidable structure was brought to life by a team of experts, who hand-carved the piece to replicate a surviving lion sculpture found on a building in Scotland on which the John Cunningham Student Centre is based.
Janusz Niewczas at Stoneshape developed the lion from detailed photographs, sketches and a plaster prototype which was used as a reference to hand-carve the sculpture. This was a significant body of work and achievement for all involved – taking 3 months from concept to installation. Congratulations to both RJC group and Stoneshape for collaborating on the installation.
The completion of this project milestone means works will now commence on the render façade, as well as removing scaffolding.
The John Cunningham Student Centre replaces the former Stevenson Library building located within The Scots College. The development will create a new, accessible learning and study environment delivering a number of key benefits to the school community. These comprise multiple new learning spaces, dedicated pastoral care and counselling facilities, improved academic research spaces, enhanced accessibility routes and new formal function rooms on the upper levels.
“We are proud to celebrate the successful completion of this project milestone with The Scots College, alongside our subcontractors, architects and stonemasons. The installation of the sandstone lion sculpture pays homage to the Scots Baronial design – one that reinforces the College’s rich history and traditions.
It is a privilege to deliver this state-of-the-art centre that will provide students with world-class learning spaces, counselling facilities, academic research spaces, accessibility routes and formal function rooms,” said Jason Tulich.