Contract awarded for £11.9 million Aviemore community primary school

The Highland Council has this week awarded a contract for the construction of the new Aviemore Community Primary school. The total cost of the development is £11.9 million. The development of this community primary school is the first of its kind in the Highlands.

The contract is awarded to Graham Construction who will begin work at the Muirton site next month. The new school is due for completion in April 2012.
The school has been designed to a high sustainability standard and is achieving a ‘very good’ rating using the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM).

The school facilities will include 10 primary classrooms, 2 general purpose classrooms and a resources area; a main hall;  wrap around nursery unit and childcare facilities (with independent access);  assisted support needs facilities;  multi-purpose sports hall;  kitchen and dining facilities; support for learning unit; biomass boiler and a fenced sports pitch.

It will also feature a range of community facilities including a community library, service point, sports changing facilities, multi purpose activity room, meeting room, learning centre and Service Point reception with interview rooms. The development has been designed in house by the Council’s Housing and Property Service on behalf of the Education, Culture and Sport Service as client sponsor. Project management services will also be provided ‘in house’.
As part of the overall operational management of the new community facilities, a management agreement has been established between Aviemore Community Centre Company and the Council’s Eduaction, Culture and Sport Service.

The four Highland Councillors who serve Badenoch and Strathspey on The Highland Council – Stuart Black, Jaci Douglas, Dave Fallows and Gregor Rimell  - are delighted that work is about to start on the eagerly-awaited school.  They say partnership working between the Council and the local community has been crucial in securing such a significant investment in Aviemore.  The inclusion of community facilities in the new school complex, would provide a new community focus for Aviemore.

Willie McKenna, Chairman of the Aviemore Community Centre, has welcomed the early start to work at the site. He said: “This is another exciting milestone in this community project. We are all greatly looking forward to our new school which will bring our community together at one focal point.”

Gary Holmes, contracts director at Graham Construction, said: “This is our first major contract with The Highland Council and we’re looking forward to working closely with the design team to help deliver such an important and much-needed resource. On completion, the new Aviemore Community School will provide staff and pupils with improved teaching and learning facilities, as well as a stunning civic amenity for the wider community.”