Aberdeen’s newest school officially opened
22 November 2015
Covering 4,501 sq m, the new school, which commenced construction in April 2014, has been designed to cater for 420 primary pupils and to provide 80 nursery places as well as accommodation for visual support services.
In addition to classroom and administration space, the innovative plans feature a range of outdoor provision including a cycle track to enable road safety lessons to take place within school complex, courts for basketball and netball in addition to an all-weather 3G sports pitch, an adventure playground, a sensory garden and a woodland wildlife area. There are terrace-style areas on the first floor which can be used as outdoor classrooms.
Aberdeen City Council agreed to build a new Brimmond School, on the site of the former Newhills School in Bucksburn, to accommodate the area's growing school-age population.
Bucksburn School and Newhills School were amalgamated to create Brimmond School at the start of the 2013/14 school year.
Temporary arrangements were made at the Bucksburn School site to accommodate pupils and staff from Newhills School, which allowed the demolition of the Newhills building and construction of the new Brimmond School on the Newhills site.
The project was delivered using the hub model, in which hub North Scotland was appointed development partner by Aberdeen City Council with the main contractor for the build Ogilvie Construction. JM Architects was tasked with creating the design for the school.
Aberdeen City Council Leader Councillor Jenny Laing said: "Brimmond School is an outstanding design and sets the standard which we intend to meet in all our future primary school buildings.
"The pupils, parents, teachers and wider school staff from Bucksburn and Newhills must be thanked for the enthusiasm and support they have given to help create what is truly a community school.
"Our children are the future of this city and we are committed to ensuring our primary schools are the best that we can possibly provide.
"By using the hub model we are all benefiting from this partnership approach."
Convener of Education and Children's Services Committee Councillor Angela Taylor said: "By working with the local communities of Bucksburn and Newhills we have ensured Brimmond School will meet the needs of the area and provide a first-class education facility for the children at both nursery and school age."
hub North Scotland, is the driving force behind the planning, procurement and delivery of community-based infrastructure projects across the north of Scotland.
Angus Macfarlane, chief executive of hub North Scotland, said: "We believe that the new Brimmond School is a first-class educational environment that both nursery and primary school age children will benefit from for generations to come.
"This isn't simply just a primary school. It's a community facility that will bring a number of benefits to its surrounding area.
"Throughout the construction process, we've actively supported the local economy with the involvement of both suppliers and a workforce with links to the area.
"Meeting the needs of those who will use it on a regular basis has been a vital component of the entire process. Attention to detail has also been a key theme throughout the project's progress and we hope that the facility's most important stakeholders the pupils it will serve are proud to attend what is the city's newest and most modern primary school."
hub North Scotland comprises Alba Community Partnerships (a joint venture of Galliford Try investments, Equitix and Sweett Investment Services), Scottish Futures Trust and 16 Northern Territory Partners, working with local suppliers and contractors to deliver quality buildings and services.