Home of Shinty at Bught Park, Inverness building design, Scottish Highlands Camanachd Cup final event

Home of Shinty at Bught Park, Inverness

17 September 2025

Location: Inverness, Scotland

Rybka delivers new £8M ‘Home of Shinty’ as part of Inverness Zero Carbon Cultural Regeneration Project

Key takeaways:

– £8M facility will host shinty’s blue riband event, the Camanachd Cup final, which Rybka are sponsoring
– Project funded by UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund and was opened by UK Government Minister for Scotland
– Low operational carbon project houses a new function suite, offices and a changing village
– Rybka becomes Camanachd Association sponsor following handover of building

Home of Shinty, Bught Park, Inverness Building

17th September 2025 – Rybka, a leading UK provider of mechanical and electrical engineering design solutions with offices across Scotland, has successfully delivered a new £8M ‘Home of Shinty’ in Inverness. The project, which was recently opened by UK Government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill, saw Rybka provide full mechanical and electrical engineering design, with the multi-use facility successfully delivered in time for the Camanachd Association to host its showpiece event – the Camanachd Cup final on 20 September 2025.

The new pavilion, which sits on Bught Park, adjacent to a large sports field area, refurbished grandstand and shinty pitch, was developed as part of the Highland Council’s Inverness Zero Carbon Cultural Regeneration Project. Funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, Rybka undertook an 18-month design phase, followed by 20 months on site, with mechanical and electrical engineering design for the project modelled by Rybka’s digital construction team using building information software. They were supported by the Rybka-s team providing overheating analysis and operational energy analysis, with SBEM and EPC delivered upon completion.

Speaking on Rybka’s involvement in the project, Martin Bell, Rybka’s Business Development Director, had this to say:

“We were delighted to be part of the redevelopment at Bught Park in Inverness. The building works were part of a wider scheme known as the ‘Zero Carbon Cultural Regeneration Project’, with low carbon targets at the core, this project aligned perfectly with Rybka’s strategic vision and our position as a leader in low carbon building design.

“This ambitious development not only enhances facilities but also strengthens cultural identity, creating a home for shinty at the very heart of the Highlands. With their heat pump driven systems and on-site renewable generation, these buildings are an exemplar of low carbon building design.”

Bell continued:

“Blending heritage with sustainability for the benefit of the wider community, Rybka are proud to be part of this project, and as a member of the shinty community myself, there’s a huge sense of pride to be involved in a project that will have such a lasting impact on the sport.”

The pavilion will house Scotland’s first dedicated shinty museum, which is set to open later this year. On the first floor the new building comprises a large function suite that overlooks the main shinty pitch as well as new office accommodation for sportscotland. Additionally, the project saw the existing grandstand refurbished with a large changing village built onto the rear, serving the shinty pitch and the array of football pitches.

Zero Carbon Cultural Regeneration

Key features include:

* Hybrid VRF (variable refrigerant flow) provides heating and cooling with a very low refrigerant volume.
* Natural refrigerant (R290/propane) air source heat pumps provide heating to the underfloor system in the changing block.
* Changing block boasts mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR).
* Hot water is provided in the changing rooms from the latest CO₂ heat pumps ((R744/CO₂)
* Hot water usage is reduced via waste water heat recovery built into the showers.
* The buildings have good air tightness with MVHR.
* Whole development is reinforced by two large solar PV systems, providing a very low operational carbon project.

Sponsorship

With this ambitious project delivered on schedule, ahead of the Camanachd Association’s blue riband event, the Camanachd Cup final, held on 20 September 2025, Rybka is looking forward to hosting guests for some VIP Hospitality in the new function suite on the day.

Rybka

Bringing buildings to life since the 1930s, Rybka are a leading engineering consultancy, offering services from mechanical and electrical design to building physics and building information modelling. In recent years, Rybka have driven sustainability to the core of all their projects and have built up a strong track record in delivering environmentally friendly and cost-effective engineering solutions.

Rybka have recently become part of leading engineering solutions provider, BRUSH Group, which has accelerated the company’s growth. Rybka continues to deliver a legacy of long-lasting, efficient, low carbon projects across the UK that are healthy and comfortable for the end-users.

Home of Shinty at Bught Park, Inverness images / information received 160925

Address: Bught Park, Inverness, Scotland, UK.

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photo © The Highland Council