Anyone familiar with Edinburgh, especially those who’ve visited during the iconic Fringe Festival, knows the magic of the Old Town. It’s a place where cobbled streets echo with history, and every corner holds a story. Located just off the Royal Mile is Crichton House, a former brewhouse that has long been part of the city’s fabric. Now, it’s stepping into a brand-new chapter.
The Royal Mile, Edinburgh’s historic spine, stretches from the imposing Edinburgh Castle to the regal Holyrood Palace. It consists of a series of streets, including Castlehill, the Lawnmarket, the High Street, the Canongate, and Abbey Strand, all adding to a vibrant and important city landscape; vital to the tourist economy as here, you’ll find a diverse mix of pubs, performers, restaurants, and shops.
Crichton House, just steps away from this lively thoroughfare, is being transformed once again. Previously converted into offices, the building is now set to become 18 short-stay serviced apartments, a respectful revival that keeps the spirit of the original brewhouse intact. With minimal changes to the exterior, the project was designed to preserve the building’s industrial character, in line with the strict conservation guidelines of the Old Town.
The project
Acting as a subcontractor on the project, EA Construction Scotland Ltd. was tasked with breathing new life into the disused office space. To meet the high standards required, they brought in Quill Falcon to supply a specialist dry blast system, along with a breathing box and blast helmets.
One of the key challenges was the top-floor steelwork, previously coated with intumescent paint. Lacking certification for the existing layer, the decision was made to remove it entirely, stripping the surface back to bare steel to ensure safety and compliance.
The ideal equipment
For the job, the Quill SUPA-DRI 150 was the machine of choice. Known for its reliability and precision, this dry blasting system was perfect for the delicate task at hand, removing the old coating efficiently while avoiding flash rust.
Throughout the process, great care was taken to respect the sensitive context of the Old Town conservation area. This wasn’t just a renovation, it was a careful act of preservation and refurbishment, restoring a piece of Edinburgh’s brewing past through useful and innovative re-invention.
To find out more about the Quill Falcon range of dustless blasting equipment, get in touch.