GRAHAM has been appointed lead contractor on a £10 million project to retrofit the campus at Brunstane Primary School in Edinburgh.
The investment is tipped to transform the school into ‘one of the greenest’ in the capital.
GRAHAM was appointed by City of Edinburgh Council and work is expected to complete in winter 2025.
Consisting of a three-storey tower with 12 classrooms and a single-storey southern block with eight classrooms, an administration office, amenity space and infant block, improvements will enable the building to be carbon neutral in operation.
This includes ‘much-needed’ repair works, new cladding on the external walls and roof, replacement of existing windows and curtain walling, and floor finishes and redecoration across the full building. Accessibility will also be improved with the removal of existing steps and the introduction of new ramps to certain areas around the school.
An air source heat pump and electric heating system will replace the existing gas network, while installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of the tower block will boost sustainability credentials.
Serving the communities of Brunstane and Portobello, the primary school has a current roll of 263 and provides early learning and childcare for up to 96 children. The school will remain operational throughout the construction period, with temporary classrooms installed on site to ensure education is uninterrupted.
Gary Holmes, regional MD at GRAHAM Building North, said, “The significant investment made by City of Edinburgh Council to modernise Brunstane Primary School will create a vibrant and inspiring education centre. GRAHAM has a proven track record of delivering best-in-class education facilities across Scotland and we’re proud to play a role in helping shape Edinburgh’s next generation of school environments which prioritise accessibility and sustainability.”
Councillor Joan Griffiths, education, children and families convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, added, “We have over 100 schools supporting thousands of pupils and we’re making every effort to make sure they are as welcoming, accessible, and sustainable as possible. Our £10 million investment in Brunstane Primary is a perfect example of this work, with energy efficiency improvements and repairs planned for the whole building. We have ambitious net zero aims as a city and this extends to upgrades to our schools, many of which are aging. I’m excited to see the difference this retrofitting roll out will make.”
