SH Structures rides ahead with major Scottish landmark project

A YORKSHIRE company that specialises in complex steel structures has completed a £5m contract to help build a major Scottish landmark.

SH Structures has been working on The Kelpies in Falkirk, part of the Helix redevelopment, which will see two 30 metre high horse heads tower above the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal.

Based upon an original work by Scottish sculptor Andy Scott, it is hoped the structure will become as well-known as other projects such the Angel of the North.

Tim Burton of SH Structures, based in Sherburn-In-Elmet, said: “We took on the £5m contract early in 2012 and saved the client around £750,000 by taking on the scheme on a design and build basis. It has been a great project and one that is a fantastic example of traditional skills, modern computer design and structural engineering.

“We are sure that when the site is opened to the public in 2014 it will become a major tourist attraction and another significant UK landmark.

“Whilst the project is in Scotland there is a strong Yorkshire connection as we have been responsible for the building of the structures and part of our supply also included the stainless steel ‘skin’ which was manufactured by Outokumpu in Sheffield.

“Andy Scott built some models which were then scanned to create a surface model, carried out by consultants Atkins in Rotherham, from which a full scale structural solution was designed.”

Other major projects carried out by SH Structures include work on the Stonehenge visitor centre, part of a £27m redevelopment of the historic site.