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The Engine Shed

Get an overview of the Engine Shed, Scotland’s first building conservation hub.

Photograph of the interior of a modern building with exhibitions set up
  1. Overview
  2. About the Engine Shed
  3. How it works
  4. Contact

1 Overview

The Engine Shed is a place for all to learn about Scotland’s built heritage and how to look after it. We offer a variety of activities for a range of audiences, including hands on activities, drop in craft sessions and demonstrations.

Visiting

Entry is free.
Opening times: 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday.
Address: Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ
The Engine Shed has been supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. 

Heritage Lottery Fund

2 About the Engine Shed

Scotland’s first dedicated building conservation centre, the Engine Shed, opened on Monday 3 July 2017. Run by Historic Environment Scotland, the Engine Shed serves as a central hub for building and conservation professionals and the general public.

The Engine Shed aims to bring conservation to life and inspire a new generation to look after its heritage. On your visit you can enjoy:

  • our permanent exhibition looking into traditional building materials and the development of architectural styles in Scotland
  • an Augmented Reality map revealing different layers of information, from the complex geology of Scotland, to climate change effects on our historic buildings
  • interactive activities covering subjects including corrosion, thermal imaging and 3D scanning
  • a selection of food and beverages from our café
A photograph of children sitting on a large map of Scotland looking at tablets

The Engine Shed also features an auditorium with 3D 4K capabilities. Films and short documentaries detailing our use of state of the art technology to conserve Scotland’s rich heritage are regularly shown here.
The building’s facilities include seminar rooms, offices and labs that have been set up for teaching, working and carrying out research. We deliver training opportunities on site, from short lectures and seminars to a Post Graduate Qualification in Technical Building Conservation.

3 How it works

As the hub for building conservation in Scotland, we work closely with colleagues from locations across Scotland, ensuring that the Engine Shed vision is delivered throughout the country.

These sites include our masonry training centres in Elgin and at Forth Valley College, as well as our Applied Conservation Unit at South Gyle in Edinburgh.
The network also brings together partners across the country, including:
  • city heritage trusts
  • building preservation trusts
  • training providers
By supporting and promoting conservation work across Scotland, the Engine Shed will have a national reach and impact.

4 Contact

Technical Education and Outreach
Historic Environment Scotland
Forthside Way
Stirling
FK8 1QZ

Telephone: 01786 234 800
Email: technicaleducation@hes.scot

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