Merkinch Primary School and Family Centre

NORR was appointed by Robertson Construction Northern to design a large extension to the existing Merkinch Primary School in Inverness, Scotland. Originally built in 1876, the primary goal was to future-proof the building for generations of students using sustainable methods of construction. The 11,000 square-foot contemporary extension was designed as a state-of-the-art educational facility that paid respect to the original Category B listed Victorian school.

Featuring 14 new classrooms, a new ancillary teaching area, three new nursing rooms and a four-court game hall, the new school is dedicated to creating spaces, places and experiences that benefit the local community. The design vision was to create the largest school in Scotland to be built using Cross-Laminated Timber, (CLT) which is more sustainable than traditional materials of construction. CLT has many environmental advantages over more traditional construction techniques and has a far lower embodied carbon footprint than steel or concrete. Moreover, the mass timber of the CLT acts as a carbon sink, essentially removing C02 from the atmosphere and trapping it in the building structure.

Through careful planning, the existing school was able to remain operational throughout the construction period, minimizing disruption to the students. Temporary modular accommodation was provided on the existing playing fields to limit the use of existing classrooms. NORR delivered a sustainable project by collaborating with teachers, students and community members to design a modern education facility with historical roots that will benefit the entire community.

Photo Credit: John Paul Photography/Robertson Construction Northern