Kier launches £65m Edinburgh Passivhaus school project

The school will provide 1,000 student places, with three floors of teaching blocks, sports and leisure facilities, a swimming pool, and a café.

A new home for Currie Community High School is being built by Kier for City of Edinburgh Council to Passivhaus energy performance standards – one of the first schools in Scotland to be built to the this standard.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on site on Thursday this week, which saw the contractor host Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Scottish government’s cabinet secretary for education, along with representatives from the council, Scottish Futures Trust and the school.

The project has been procured through the Crown Commercial Services framework and is one of the projects in the first phase of the Scottish government’s learning estates investment programme. The project is divided into two phases with overall completion expected in early 2025.

Kier Construction regional director Phil McDowell said: “This is a really unique project, which not only creates an outstanding new school but also aligns to the council’s net zero targets. Everything about the new school has been designed with the focus of minimising energy usage and creating a healthy environment for generations to come.”

Currie Community High School headteacher Jenny Smith said: “It was great to be at the event this morning as everyone can now see the construction taking place on the site of the new school.”

Faithful & Gould is the council’s project manager and design team leader, while Architype is the architect, interior designer and client’s information manager.

Architype associate director Ann-Marie Fallon said: “Currie Community High School is an exciting and innovative Passivhaus ultra-low carbon school. As importantly, the school will offer beautiful, light filled and healthy learning places and become a vibrant community hub with outstanding health and fitness facilities and a Passivhaus swimming pool.”

Kier’s previous Passivhaus schemes in the UK include St Sidwell’s Point Leisure Centre and St Loyes extra care home, both in Exeter.

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