The six-figure design contract will develop detailed designs for a visitor centre and lift on the North Queensferry side and a facility for bridge walkers on the South Queensferry side.
Arup is expected to produce build-ready designs by the middle of 2015, enabling them to be submitted to local authorities for planning consideration.
The £15m project will be led by Arup's South Queensferry office and will be supported by two local firms. WT Architecture will provide architectural advice and local knowledge and the Paul Hogarth Company will help develop the hard and soft landscaping for both locations.
Network Rail route managing director David Dickson: “This is a significant investment in our vision for a groundbreaking new tourist attraction for Scotland. It demonstrates our commitment to further developing our visitor proposals during the Forth Bridge’s 125th anniversary year. The quality of submissions we received from our procurement process were of an exceptionally high standard, as you would expect with a landmark of such importance and prominence. Arup’s bid stood out for a number of reasons, not least due to the involvement of local firms which will help form a strong core for the design team.”
The contract will include designs for North Queensferry where proposals envisage visitors arriving via a landscaped shore side walk to a visitor centre built under the northern Fife Tower. Two panoramic elevators on the eastern side of the bridge will provide access to a viewing platform on the top of the bridge, 110m above sea level.
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