Highland's first sustainable school takes shape
The Highland Council has taken delivery of the first parts of a timber superstructure from Austria this week, which will form 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 total cost of the project is £5.8 million and the school is due to open in early 2009.
The timber structural frame was manufactured and is being erected by Sohm Holzbautechnik GmbH of Austria.
Local Highland Councillors Dr Michael Foxley, and Bren Gormley met with Council officials, Head Teacher Mrs Lyndsay Bradley and around 12 local children to view the site clearance and foundation works that have been carried out by MacGregor Construction and to witness the lorry loads of timber framework arriving on site.
Councillor Foxley said: “MacGregor Construction have done a great job clearing the site and preparing the foundations to a high standard. There is now a great hive of activity as the Austrian team with Sohm Holzbautechnik erect the timber framework.
“The difference between this type of building construction and others is that has a high level of energy insulation which creates very safe non toxic environment for people to live and work in the building. It’s not a cheap project because of its location but it is a forerunner of future sustainable projects from which we will learn a lot.
“There is currently no capability within Scotland to produce this type of mass timber construction. I have been in discussion with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Forestry Commission Scotland to discuss hopes for the future that we will be able to get this capacity in the Highlands to utilise local timbers and jobs to make this type of construction more cost effective.
“Our community steering group has worked very hard over the last four years so that there will be an upgraded school hall for community use with improved heating and lighting. The capacity will be 50% greater than the current village hall allowing larger audiences to attend events.
“Special facilities for Feis nan Garbh Chriochan will include a music room; storage room for musical instruments, a Feis office and use of the upgraded venue with lighting for performances. The Feis is currently on in Strontian with 84 children this week and it will decant back to Acharacle next year.
“We are also working with local groups to install public art into the building after completion including: stained glass, paintings, ceramics, wood finishing and furniture from the Scots Pine that needed to be felled on site during construction.
“The children are extremely excited and looking forward to seeing their new school completed and I am absolutely delighted with the progress so far it is great to be down here.”
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.
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