Mackenzie Construction partners with Make it Glasgow

Mackenzie Construction partners with Make it Glasgow to create lasting community Impact

Mackenzie Construction is proud to have partnered with Make it Glasgow as it today unveils the completed mosaic work on the Beithir sculpture at Stockingfield Bridge.

The Mackenzie Construction team has been involved with the project since the early stages, initially working on the groundworks for the sculpture, installing the concrete slab where the Beithir now sits. Working closely with Scottish Canals, Scott Associates Sculpture and the artist Nichol Wheatley, the Beithir was fabricated locally and then carefully transported by our team in sections to their final position as part of the impressive sculpture.

Braving the elements over the winter, the Mackenzie team installed scaffolding around the perimeter of the Beithir head providing cover and access to the top of the 121m mythical serpent. As Scott Associates began to shape the contour of the Beithir using chicken wire mesh with a ferrocement coating, the Make it Glasgow team began their mosaicking works on the artwork.

Despite harsh winter conditions and stormy weather, the mosaicking works have progressed over the course of the winter reaching completion at the beginning of February. The Mackenzie team have had to provide ongoing support to navigate the challenging conditions including installing a power supply within the Beithir to run several heaters, ensuring the ferrocement was at the required temperature for applying the mosaic.

To support the Make it Glasgow team, Mackenzie Construction established a compound area for them to base themselves throughout the works and this will eventually become their permanent home, creating a last community impact for the project as well as allowing the team to facilitate work on other artwork pieces around Stockingfield Park.

Ahead of the grand unveiling, Mackenzie Construction was delighted to install a temporary custom cover and finish some landscaping works around the head, ensuring the reveal will be impressive.

The partnership with Make it Glasgow has created an opportunity for Mackenzie to support the successful launch of their tile making workshops, with several volunteers from the local area able to give their time and contribute to the mosaicking works. These tiles, made by the community, are incorporated in the Beithir’s head, leaving an inspiring community legacy.