Historic Scotland’s director of conservation, David Mitchell, has said that the country’s new conservation centre in Sterling, due to open in 2016, will “raise technical standards” as the heritage body tries to attract a generation of digital natives to its attractions.

The £8.9m (US$13.4m, €12.4m) Engine Shed – part-financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – gained planning permission in December 2014. Following two years of development, the project is nearing completion ready for a summer 2016 opening.

“It’s a building conservation centre designed for the sector and its purpose is to raise technical standards, conduct research and particularly to engage a new generation,” said Mitchell, speaking to Attractions Management. “It’s very much focused on getting kids interested in what we do from science through to traditional materials.

“The challenge is that we have a whole series of kids we would describe as ‘digital natives’, where this stuff is absolutely intuitive. If you want to engage with them, you’ve got to speak their language and that’s digital nowadays.” he continued.

With the aim of engaging the younger generation, the conservation centre uses cutting-edge technology with a host of digital interactive displays teaching visitors about the evolution of Scotland’s buildings over the past 4,000 years. In addition the venue will include an auditorium where several shows are planned including showcasing 3D maps and tours of heritage sites around Scotland, also providing the opportunity for the sharing of knowledge and expertise through the creation of a ‘knowledge hub’ with events, exhibitions and activities for the general public.

Edinburgh-based Reiach and Hall will be acting as lead architects for the project and have been working alongside the Historic Scotland team to transformation of the derelict former engine shed into a new centre for building conservation in Scotland.

In addition to acting as a visitor attraction, the Engine Shed will also operate as a centre of excellence for those already operating in the heritage sector, with the creation of educational resources and deliverance of training in traditional buildings and materials. Once open the centre will also bring together bodies across Scotland, including city heritage trusts, building preservation trusts, training providers and many others to create a strong heritage network with the Engine Shed at its centre.

“We’re hedging our bets slightly on how the facility will play out because we just don’t know the level of interest in it as a visitor attraction,” said Mitchell. “The only other facility like it is the National Building Museum in Washington, which receives hundreds of thousands of people coming through its doors every year. We have been cautious, forecasting visitor numbers of 30,000 in our first year but I’m very hopeful we’re going to do much better than that.”