The £30m Ailsa Craig project was driven by local residents and local business people who set up Girvan Community Development Ltd (GCD). JMP won the subsequent Visitor Centre design competition. The proposed building - a series of linked fingers whose undulating form resembles tidal sand patterns - will be sited on a car park between the coastal greenway and the town. The Visitor Centre, partly powered by a wind-turbine and other low-impact energy systems, has been designed to achieve an Excellent BREEAM rating.

The building will face the nature reserve island of Ailsa Craig, 12 miles offshore, and its facilities will include an RSPB centre, creche, 250-seat theatre, outdoor events space, restaurant and various facilities addressing environmental and leisure needs.