In a noteworthy stride towards sustainable development, Brunstane Primary School in Edinburgh is poised to experience a transformative £10 million modernisation project. This bold endeavour, led by the City of Edinburgh Council and executed by construction firm GRAHAM, seeks to reimagine the school as one of the capital’s most environmentally conscious educational facilities. With construction having commenced in October 2024, the project is slated for completion by winter 2025, signifying a new chapter for the school and its surrounding community.
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The current infrastructure of Brunstane Primary School caters to 263 students and accommodates early learning and childcare for up to 96 children. The facility comprises a three-storey tower featuring 12 classrooms and a single-storey southern block, which houses eight classrooms, administrative offices, amenity spaces, and an infant block. The comprehensive upgrade plan will enhance the entire campus, with a primary focus on sustainability and accessibility.
Integral to the retrofit are critical repair works that include the installation of new cladding on external walls and roofs, along with the replacement of existing windows and curtain walling. The refurbishment will extend to floor finishes and redecoration throughout the building. A key objective of this modernisation is to improve accessibility; existing steps will be removed, and new ramps introduced, ensuring the facility is fully accessible to all members of the community.
Sustainability lies at the heart of this project. The school will transition from its traditional reliance on gas to an air source heat pump and electric heating system, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Further enhancing its sustainability credentials, photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roof of the tower block to harness solar energy. These initiatives align with the City of Edinburgh Council’s ambitious goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Gary Holmes, Regional Managing Director at GRAHAM Building North, underscored the importance of this investment, noting that it will create a “vibrant and inspiring education centre.” Similarly, Councillor Joan Griffiths, Education, Children, and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, emphasised the council’s commitment to ensuring that schools are welcoming, accessible, and sustainable.
Undertaking such an extensive project presents the challenge of maintaining the school’s day-to-day operations without disruption. To mitigate this, temporary classrooms will be installed on-site, enabling the school to function as usual during the construction phase. This phased approach ensures that the educational needs of the students remain a priority, even as the school undergoes significant transformation.
Brunstane Primary School’s modernisation serves as a blueprint for future educational infrastructure projects. By placing a strong emphasis on sustainability and accessibility, the City of Edinburgh Council is setting a benchmark for how schools can be retrofitted to contemporary standards while advancing broader environmental objectives. The benefits of this project extend beyond the immediate community of Brunstane and Portobello, contributing to the city’s overarching vision of a more sustainable future.
The £10 million investment in Brunstane Primary School represents a significant commitment by the City of Edinburgh Council to both contemporary education and sustainable development. As the project unfolds, it is poised to inspire similar initiatives nationwide, demonstrating how educational institutions can evolve to meet the demands of the 21st century while playing a vital role in environmental stewardship.
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