Contractor Profiles

Calanais Visitor Centre: Building on Local Expertise with Lewis Builders

The exciting redevelopment of the Calanais Visitor Centre is well underway, and we recently spoke with the team at Lewis Builders to get the inside scoop on this major heritage project. It’s clear their deep local knowledge and diverse skills are the key drivers in bringing this important project to fruition. 

“It’s an amazing opportunity to be involved in a project that has such a big historical impact,” John MacLeod, Project Director for Lewis Builders shared

“The Standing Stones have become an iconic staple of Scottish history and folklore, so it’s very exciting to be involved in the preservation and restoration of the site facilities.”

Skills and Expertise:

When tackling a project as complex as the Calanais redevelopment, it helps to have a team that can handle it all – and that’s exactly what Lewis Builders brings to the table. They have multiple trades in-house, which makes coordinating the different parts of the build much smoother. This isn’t their first major build; they have solid experience managing large-scale constructions, including a recent local care home and supported accommodation units.

Investing in Local Talent:

It’s not just the buildings that are getting an upgrade; the team’s skills are too.

“Due to the requirements of the project, we have had to put our guys through additional training which has benefited their personal development and skills and will allow us to use these newfound skills on future projects and broaden the services that we can provide to our community.”

This isn’t just great for the individuals; it’s a long-term benefit for the entire community.

Local Knowledge a Big Asset:

Lewis Builders believes having a local team is an excellent advantage.

“Our team have knowledge of the area and understand its importance, and we feel this allows us to bring an extra level of care and appreciation to the work that we are doing.”

Tackling the Challenges:

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing, of course. The team noted that the site itself has been the single most challenging aspect, stating,

“Rock is everywhere, which has been difficult at times, especially when Lewisian Gneiss is one of the hardest rocks to work with, and the inclement weather we have been exposed to adds to the challenges.” 

Yet, the most exciting part has been the problem-solving itself. “No two days are the same,” they said. “It is how we have tackled the unforeseen challenges and worked together as a team that has made the project worthwhile.”

Another benefit of being a Hebridean company is that Lewis Builders are dedicated to respecting their neighbours. They have also taken all possible steps to minimise disruption to residents, stating,

“We have and continue to do our utmost to minimise disruptions to the residents by ensuring vehicles are parked in our designated parking areas where possible and keeping noise and dust to a minimum.”

We thank the local community for their patience with the construction works.

Lewis Builders won the redevelopment of the Calanais Visitor Centre under open tender against fierce competition, and Urras nan Tursachan are delighted that their chosen contractor is passionate about supporting the local community and providing employment and training opportunities where possible. Leaving the last word to Lewis Builders, they say,

“This has been a significant project for the island, and it’s exciting to be associated with it.”

Bright Designers – Bringing History to Life

Bright, a team of expert designers (interpretive, interior, graphic, and exhibition), is a key partner in the Calanais Project. Their goal is to create powerful memories for visitors by designing exciting and engaging spaces.  Instrumental in developing the new exhibition, ‘The Story of the Stones’, 3D Designer Catriona Fraser shared her excitement,

“It’s been an incredible opportunity to work on a project that does so much to showcase such an iconic piece of Scottish history… It’s my hope that visitors will enjoy exploring this exhibition.”

The primary challenge was condensing thousands of years of history and culture into one space while being faithful to the Gaelic language. Catriona confirms,

“It has been a brilliantly creative process developing an exhibition that tells the story of the stones in a faithful, engaging and exciting way.” 

The team is particularly excited for the public to experience the new immersive elements within the exhibition.

Bright brings a deep sensitivity to the heritage of the Outer Hebrides, having been involved with Calanais since the initial feasibility stage. Beyond the exhibition, they contributed to the centre’s signage and branding and say

“We very much hope the Calanais Visitor Centre is a place that the community is proud of and uses.”

SMO (Euan Macleod)

Tha fios gu  bheil Gàidhlig na phàirt mhòr de na tha sinn a strì air aig Ionad Luchd-tadhail Chalanais. Le sin, tha sinn air a bhith ag obair gu dlùth còmhla ri sgioba Sabhal Mòr Òstaig airson brosnachadh ar cànan. 

Seo agaibh Euan MhicLeòid bho sgioba SMO, ag innse beagan mun co-obrach againn.

“Is mise Euan agus ‘s ann à Dùn Èideann a tha mi. Tha mi air a bhith a’ fuireach ann an Leòdhas, air an Taobh Siar, airson corr is deich bliadhna. ‘S e oileanach a th’ annam aig an àm seo, air an treas bliadhna de cheum PhD. Nam rannsachadh, tha mi a’ coimhead air na ceanglaichean eadar rudan de gach seòrsa agus dualchas is cànan na Gàidhlig. Ciamar a tha rudan a’ suathachadh ris a’ chànan? Ciamar a tha taighean-tasgaidh a’ riochdachadh dualchas agus cultar dùthchasach na Gàidhealtachd?

‘S ann mar phàirt de sgioba dìcheallach stèidhte aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig a tha mi. Tha sinn a’ cruthachadh teacsaichean Gàidhlig a bhios ri fhaicinn anns an ionad ùr. Bidh earrannan iongantach mu àrc-eòlas. Cuideachd, bidh sgeul nan daoine agus mar a tha muinntir an àite air a bhith an amaladh nan Tursachan thar nan linn.

‘S e làrach ainmeil dha-rìreabh, aithnichte air feadh an t-saoghail, a th’ ann an Tursachan Chalanais. An-dèidh sin ‘s ann gu mòr bho shùilean nan Gàidheal a tha na seallaidhean eachdraidheil a’ tighinn, agus tha na seallaidhean seo air dreachladh an dòigh a tha mòran a’ faicinn agus a’ tuigsinn nan Tursachan an-diugh. 

Bha e anabarrach math a’ cluinntinn mun sgìre agus an caith-beatha a bh’ aig muinntir nam bailtean. Fhuair mi cothrom a shealltainn tro thasglann Cuimhnich, an iris bhliadhnail a tha Comann Eachdraidh Loch a Ròg a’ cur ri chèile. Agus cuideachd le bhith ag ionnsachadh mu bhàrdachd baile, cuid a bha brònach agus cuid eile a bha aotrom.

‘S ann gu lèir tron Ghàidhlig a bha an obair agam. Eadar sgrìobhadh is leughadh, èisdeachd is faighneachd, is rud beag geop.

The Calanais team have been sure to keep Gaelic at the core of our new Calanais Visitor Centre project. We have been working closely with the Sabhal Mòr Òstaig team to ensure we are doing everything we can to encourage and inspire the use of our precious language. 

Here we have Euan Macleod from the SMO team telling a little about our collaboration. 

“I’m Euan Macleod, originally from Edinburgh but I have been living on the westside of Lewis for around ten years. 

At the moment, I’m a third year PhD student. Within my research, I’m looking at the various connections of heritage and our Gaelic language. 

As a team, we are creating texts which will be seen within the new Calanais Visitor Centre. Within these, expect to see fascinating texts about archaeology. As well as that, there will be stories from and about local people and their links to the Calanais Stones throughout the years. 

The Calanais stones are a world-famous site. Yet it’s from the viewpoint of Gaels that the historical sites have come from, these of which have influenced how people see and interpret the Calanais Stones today. 

It was fantastic to hear more about the district of Calanais and the lifestyle of the villagers. I got the opportunity to look through East Loch Roag Historical Society’s magazine, Cuimhnich which they publish annually. Also, I was able to learn more about poetry, some of which were sad, others more uplifting. 

All my work is done using our Gaelic language, whether that be writing, reading, listening and speaking.”