During the 600^th anniversary of the University of St. Andrews this month’s blog focuses on the university museum. One of four of the university’s collections this most recent creation involved the regeneration of an existing building. This regeneration had to complement an area almost solely composed of listed buildings and scheduled monuments that border the former Swallowgait.

Opened in 2008 the building was a former laboratory and utility buildings for the university.  Overlooking the Scores Park it had been much altered in previous decades.

The deceptively small building holds over 12,000 artefacts bringing to life the 600 years of the university. Although St. Andrews has been a seat of learning since the Culdees formal tuition was instigated by the Augistinian priory in 1211.  On 11 May 1410 Bishop Henry Wardlaw created a Studium General Universitatis using volunteer teaching clergy.  The official status of university however, could only be granted by the head of the Catholic Church.  This was signed by Pope Benedict XIII and the Papal Bull arrived at Candlemas, February 1414.

In accordance with current regulations and aspirations towards environmental necessities the conversion of an old building needed to consider new sustainable development methods.  The architects for MUSA applied the latest knowledge of energy reduction and renewables to the core issues of how to heat and light the interior.  Innovations include photovoltaic panels on the roof and a ground source pump from the car park, which is an incredible 65m underground.  The solar powered passenger lift is a marvel of technology generating battery energy whilst travelling downwards to power the returning ascent. All of this means that less CO₂ is being emitted into the atmosphere to be trapped under the ozone layer, showing that, even the past needs to consider the future.