TWO Hub South East projects won accolades at the Learning Places Scotland Awards this week.
Blackridge and St Mary’s Early Years Centres in West Lothian and Castlebrae Community Campus in Edinburgh were honoured at a ceremony in Glasgow.
Winning the Early Years and Childcare award, the early years centres for West Lothian Council comprise two nurseries featuring flexible learning spaces encouraging indoor and outdoor education. This project delivered a first for Scotland, with an accredited non-domestic Passivhaus learning space and the opportunity to compare outcomes which will influence future learning estate design.
Castlebrae Community Campus, meanwhile, delivered on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, was named Inspired Learning Space winner. The 700-capacity school boasts a variety of spaces to support collaborative and inclusive practice, with three main learning plazas.
Paul McGirk, Hub South East’s chief executive, said, “Some of the most innovative and inspiring learning estate in the country is being delivered for public sector clients through the hub programme and we are delighted that both the early years project in West Lothian and Castlebrae Community Campus in Edinburgh were recognised as award winning at the Learning Places Scotland Awards. I’d like to congratulate all those involved in these fantastic projects including our clients and supply chain partners.
“Hub South East is proud to be entrusted with the delivery of new state-of-the-art spaces for learning which are not only enhancing the learner journey but are helping our clients achieve Scottish Government aspirations around the environment and the drive to net zero carbon, as well as providing additional opportunities for local communities. We look forward to continuing these successful partnerships moving forward.”
The projects were built by Morrison Construction, with the business named Contractor of the Year at the awards.
Dr Elaine Cook, depute chief executive of West Lothian Council, which also took the title Client of the Year on the night, added, “We are delighted that our good work to invest in our learning estate was recognised at the recent Learning Places Scotland awards. To be awarded the Early Learning and Childcare award for our new centres at Blackridge and St Mary’s in Bathgate demonstrates the innovative working taking place in West Lothian to provide the best possible venues for learning. Blackridge in particular is trail blazing as the first public nursery built using passivhaus principles.”
Councillor Joan Griffiths, education, children and families convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said, “I was so delighted to accept the award for the new Castlebrae Community Campus in the Inspiring Learning Spaces category. Just last week I had the great pleasure of speaking at their official opening and on my tour of the building it was obvious why the school won the award. The building has been designed with bright open spaces at its heart and the pupils I spoke to just loved being in their new school!”
