Parliamentary News Release
043/2004
6 September 2004
PARLIAMENT CHAMBER READIED FOR START OF BUSINESS TOMORROW
The Scottish Parliament's new debating Chamber at Holyrood is being readied in preparation for the start of business tomorrow.
The Chamber features a number of striking elements, which include a ceiling reminiscent of medieval hammerbeam roofs, which in turn were based on early boat-building principles. Glass walls behind the Presiding Officer's desk contain sycamore veneer strips to maximise light while oak dividing walls in the chamber and uniquely shaped chairs provide seating for 225 members of the public in the gallery.
Today also provides an opportunity for some of the craftspeople involved in building the Chamber to see it in its finished state.
The MSPs will take their seats at desks constructed to a design by Enric Miralles which include a retractable lectern and an electronic voting equipment.
Presiding Officer, George Reid said:
“Tomorrow, business begins in this Chamber and the Parliament will welcome its first visitors to witness the occasion.
“It has taken a great effort to reach this point, but our focus since the start of this year has been to ensure that migration was completed in time to begin business at the start of September. I am delighted that we have made this deadline.
“In the run-up to the Royal Opening on October 9, work will continue on completing the landscaping and progress there is going well.”
The first day of business at Holyrood will begin at 9.30am with Time for Reflection presented by the Rev Charles Robertson, Minister of Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh. Doors open to the public at 9am.
Background
Accommodation
The Holyrood complex comprises a series of interlinking buildings. The accommodation provided includes:
- A debating chamber with seating for the 129 MSPs as well as 277 seats for the public, media and visiting dignitaries.
- Six committee rooms with a total capacity for 275 members of the public and media.
- Office accommodation for MSPs and their staff and for all Parliament employees.
- Car parking for 65 vehicles and 90 racks for bikes.
- Facilities for the public (in addition to gallery space in the Chamber and committee rooms) comprising an exhibition, crèche, restaurant and shop.
Debating Chamber
The debating Chamber contains 131 desks within its semi-circular design. It measures approximately 1200 square metres, which is around 90 square metres larger than the former chamber at the Mound.
To the front of the desks is the seating for the Presiding Officer, Parliament clerks and a place for the ceremonial mace.
In the gallery there are 225 seats available for the public, 18 for invited guests and 34 for media. Six spaces are available for people using wheelchairs and another nine seats can be adjusted for their use as well.
The space compares favourably to that available in other UK legislatures. The House of Commons in London can seat 157 people in its gallery area and 70 in the House of Lords. The Northern Ireland assembly has 44 and the Welsh Assembly 35.
The furniture features oak and sycamore and is built to an Enric Miralles design.
The ceiling is made from specially laminated oak beams reinforced by steel which span 30 metres across the chamber, held in place by 111 uniquely engineered steel nodes.
One thousand square metres of laminated glass panels line the Debating Chamber. Each has a sycamore veneer interlayer, sandwiched in horizontal strips between two layers of 6mm glass.
The first two rows and the rear rows of the MSP desks (totalling over 60 seats) will be accessible by wheel chair.
The contact for members of the media is:
Barbara Fraser: 0131 348 6265
email: Barbara.fraser@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 34 85000
For general enquiries, contact: 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome on 018001
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk