Designed by Gaia Architects, the National Trust for Scotland Visitor Centre at Glencoe opened in May 2002. The Trust wanted the new centre to blend into the natural landscape and be built according to ecological principles - a building with a gentle ecological footprint, which could be used for many purposes, is easy to maintain and repair, made of non polluting materials with low embodied energy. The building had to be energy efficient and 'healthy' - with good ventilation and no internal pollution.

Glencoe has been described as "an informal demonstration project of the potential of the Scottish forest and timber industry."

Timber was sourced from responsibly managed forests as close to the site as practical. The building was made from spruce, Scots pine, European larch, Scottish oak, birch, alder and ash.

Spruce was used for the main structure of timber portal frames, for sarking boards and for the internal secondary structure and battens. Sources: Inveralmond Estate, Perth; BSW in Fort William and Glenalmond Timber

Heartwood of European larch was used for the exterior cladding. Source: Glenalmond Timber

Scottish Oak was used for flooring in areas of heavy traffic: Manufactured by Norbuild, Sourced from the Altyre Estate. It was also used for external joinery - the doors and windows. Laminated by Russwood of Newtonmore and manufactured by Treecraft in Dornoch.

Scots Pine was used for flooring in areas of light traffic. Source: Glenalmond Timber

Birch was used for the internal ceiling linings. Supplied by Bernd Pinamonti of Out of Wood; sourced by Sandy MacDonald in Ardnamurchan

Alder, birch and ash were used for the interior doors.