Council wins design awards for Lochaber schools

The Highland Council has won two Inverness Architectural Association (IAA) design awards and one commendation for its school projects in Fort William. 

The Lundavra Primary School won ‘Best New Building’ and ‘Best Overall Building’ while the Gaelic School, Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar, located in Caol also got a commendation in the ‘Best New Building’ category. 

Lundavra school sits on the fringes of a wild environment.  The building occupies a very particular site and accommodation has been arranged to take advantage of the spectacular outlook.  The natural stone elements that emerge from the landscape in the public and school areas are intended to be experienced as the first (or final) ripples of the foot of Ben Nevis – which is visible from the playground. 

The school provides three important local amenity functions – nursery, primary school and community and recreational facilities.  Fronting the building is a new civic space, while an outdoor play environment ranges around the lower lochside elevations of the building.  There are two storeys of accommodation - but both are effectively ground floor conditions, as the building nestles into the existing topography. 

Lundavra Primary School opened its doors to pupils after the October break last year and  the current pupil roll is 237Primary and 50 Nursery pupils. 

The IAA Represents registered architects in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and seek to recognise and celebrate projects that express and enhance the identity and culture of the Highlands and Islands with the intention of promoting public interest and involvement in design throughout and beyond the region. 

Chair of the Lochaber Area Committee, Councillor Thomas MacLennan praised staff for their work.  He said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Highland Council staff who were involved and put so much hard work effort into these projects.  Once again you have shown that our standard is up there with the best.”