As part of the ongoing systematic upgrade of a retail park in Newcraighall, Edinburgh, one of the location’s more innovative units has been transformed, thanks to HI-MACS®.

In total, 23 sheets of HI-MACS® were specified by Leonard Design - an international firm of architects and interior designers who were commissioned by British Land to undertake the project at Fort Kinnaird - which has seen the 200,000 sqft site turned into a thriving mixed-use retail and leisure-led destination.

Offering almost infinite design possibilities, HI-MACS® is the perfect material for exterior cladding and boasts a long list of features and benefits, including; three-dimensional thermoplastic forming capabilities and an extensive range of colours, however it was particularly selected for this project due to its excellent resistance to weathering and dramatic translucency.

The cladding for the impressive facades was created by Glasgow based specialist fabricator, Independent Furniture and Interiors using HI-MACS® 12mm translucent Opal and Solid Diamond White sheets. The versatile material was then backlit with LEDs, enabling the buildings to have a different appearance at night and making them stand out from the adjoining units.

Emma English, HI-MACS® Specification Manager for James Latham who worked on the project, commented, “Leonard Design have done an amazing job here. It’s a really impressive project which shows just what can be done. These shops now have high quality, visually appealing frontages and we are delighted to see the significant and dramatic impact that HI-MACS® solid surface has added to the cladding element.”