Work Starts on Landmark Highland Project at Acharacle

Work began on Monday 14th January 2008 on a landmark project - the Highland’s first fully sustainable school. The new Acharacle Primary School, Ardnamurchan, will be a timber building with exceptional levels of insulation, air tightness and a minimal need for heating.

The contract has been awarded in two parts. The structural frame will be manufactured and erected by Sohm Holzbautechnik GmbH of Austria while all the infrastructure works and mechanical and electrical installations are being undertaken by MacGregor Construction. The total cost of the project is Ł5.8 million and the school is due to open at the end of this year.

Councillor Bill Fernie chairmman of Highland council's Education Culture and Sport committee
cutting the first turf with the children to commence building of a new school at Acharacle

The new school will have five classrooms, one of which is for shared community use, a nursery, a multi-purpose hall, separate dining facility, music practice rooms, changing rooms for both school and community use when the new community playing field is ready, an entrance foyer that that can be used as an extension of the school facilities and small community gatherings.

Once the school opens, the timber temporary structures of the old school will be demolished. Discussions are underway to convert the remaining stone Victorian building into housing. Because of the strong links the community has with traditional music, talks with ‘Feis nan Garbh Chriochan” has resulted in providing an office for their local use and discussions to upgrade the hall.

The Council’s Education Culture and Sport Service, supported by project management staff from Housing and Property Service, has led the project from the briefing stage and detailed consultation at the community level has be undertaken to ensure that the school meets the requirements for the future not only in terms of accommodation but in ensuring that the building is sustainably sourced, has minimum impact on the environment and helps to underpin the community for the future.

The Gaia Architectural Practice, Edinburgh, were engaged as lead consultant because of their knowledge and experience of sustainable buildings. As a result, the new building will be constructed to fully use natural ventilation and daylight with the structure using natural products that contribute to a healthy internal environment to the school. This includes the wood colouring to both the internal and external walls of the building.

The school community has contributed significantly to the development of the design, helping produce the vision for the school and artwork to feature within the school.

Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of the Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee, said: ‘This is a landmark and exciting development as it encompasses all the key elements of what the Council is trying to achieve in increasing the prosperity and wellbeing of people living and working in the Highlands and aiming to create a greener and sustainable Highland Council. This project has already helped to inform our sustainability design agenda and is attracting considerable interest nationally. I look forward to seeing the school completed in December this year and wish both the school and the community every success in the future.”

Councillor Michael Foxley said: “After over 21 years of effort I am absolutely delighted to see a start to the new school. I have consulted with the local community through School Boards and Community Councils to establish this site and the co-location with Community Playing Fields. The local Steering Group have created the detailed design and specification. I would like to thank all involved. We will now provide the people of Acharacle and the surrounding townships with a safe, non-toxic sustainable school for their children as well as a major community centre for concerts, ceilidhs and events. It will become an exemplar for new community primary schools in the Highlands.”

Head Teacher of the 55-pupil school, Mrs Lyndsay Bradley, said: “The whole community is delighted that the new school is finally under way. The pupils and staff have been working for too long in terrible conditions and it is fantastic that we will soon have our amazing new building. We would all like to thank everyone who has worked so hard over the years to make it happen.”

The Pupil Council are really happy and excited that they are getting a new school and especially because there will be new toilets and a playing field. They are pleased they’ll have their own PE hall and that the school will be Eco Friendly.