This £12 million new school provides education facilities for up to 476 pupils in Scotland’s Elgin, including Additional Support Needs provision for up to 12 students and space for 40 pre-school children in the nursery area. Built by Balfour Beatty, the scheme replaces the former Linkwood School with a modern facility for the growing local community, providing employment for 53 staff.
The school is part of the overall South of Elgin masterplan which aims to create a fully accessible and adaptable community that promotes sports and healthy lifestyles. Pedestrian links throughout the new school have been carefully integrated with the wider masterplan which also includes 2,500 new homes, a new sports centre, a range of community facilities and a new urban edge with enhanced countryside.
Our transport, structures, environmental and civil engineering teams provided consultancy services for the 3,780 sqm development through hub North Scotland on behalf of Moray Council.
The scheme’s design focuses on providing a sustainable school with access to the latest facilities and technology, all within a modern environment. One of the key sustainability targets was to enhance biodiversity and encourage natural habitats on the site, whilst increasing the opportunity for pupils to have greater contact with nature. To encourage outdoor learning, the development includes an external roof terrace and plant deck area along with a covered external classroom and a wetland area featuring aquatic and wetland meadow planting.
The outside play areas include a sand pit, a secure area for ASN pupils, an allotment and a multi-use games area (MUGA). The school’s external space also accommodates 40 car parking bays, together with 33 cycle spaces and 10 scooter spaces to encourage active travel.
Client: hub North for Moray Council
Architect: JM Architects
