WICK SHERIFF COURT – ROOFLIGHTS

Project: Wick Sheriff Court – Rooflights
Client: Scottish Court & Tribunal Service
Location: Wick Sheriff Court
Value: £0.4m
Listing: Category B
Date Complete: 2024

Wick Sheriff Court was constructed between 1862-66 to designs by David Rhind who also designed several other Courts, including Oban and Dumfries. The building is listed Category B.

Michael Laurie Architects were commissioned early in 2024 by SCTS, Scottish Court & Tribunal Service to prepare proposals to refurbish and repair an existing rooflight to the main courtroom, which was leaking badly, resulting in disruption to court business as well as the potential for damage to the plaster ceiling and adjacent timber panelling, both of which are original.

The courtroom on the first floor is a double height space with an ornate shallow vaulted plaster ceiling with a dual pitched rooflight over the well of court.

The courtroom was comprehensively refurbished in 1984-5 by Mackie Ramsey and Taylor Architects, the works including the replacement of the rooflight using mild steel glazing bars with double glazed clear glass infill.

MLA proposed a solution to remove the steel glazing bars and single glazed units and install new aluminium powder coated box section rafter rails with clear double-glazed infill on a like for like basis. The internal plasterwork and panelling were protected during the work land the external leadwork reinstated. The new glazing bars will match the panelling internally and will match the leadwork externally.

The proposed replacement rooflight will be visually similar to the existing rooflight, both internally and externally. The work was carried out as quickly as possible to avoid the potential for deterioration of internal architectural features and finishes and to avoid continued disruption to court business.