Description:
The Institute was gifted to the people of Govan by Lady Pearce
in memory of her husband, Sir William Pearce, former owner of the
Fairfield Shipyards and Govan's first MP. Over 40 third
sector organisations are based within the building, all sharing the
common aim of meeting the needs of the people of Govan.
The Pearce Institue offers a wide range of space
including the Mary Barbour Conference Suite, Lithgow Theatre and
Macleod Hall for meetings, conferences, cultural events and social
occasions.
A programme of phased restoration work is being carried out with
£5.5 million committed to date. This includes work to completely
restore the roof and carry out repairs to stonework, as part of the
Central Govan Action
Plan and Govan
Cross Townscape Heritage Initiative framework. The completed
work also includes internal repairs and restoration work. Funders
include Glasgow City Council, Heritage Lottery, Historic Scotland,
Govan and Craigton Community Planning Partnership and Scottish
Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund.
Reorganisation of the Pearce Institute's governance structure
was completed in December 2009, with ownership of the building
being transferred to a newly formed company limited by guarantee
recognised as a charity by the Office of the Scottish Charity
Regulator (OSCR). The new structure was established under a
partnership model, with directors being appointed from Govan
Workspace, Govan Housing Association, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow
South West Regeneration Agency, Central Govan Community Council and
Govan and Linthouse Church.
The current phase of refurbishment is now complete. Major roof
repairs have been carried out as well as work to external stone
work and internal repair and restoration.
The famous ship sculpture has been repaired and replaced on the
roof.