Scottish school geodesic domed building approved

One of Scotland’s leading independent schools has got the planning go-ahead for a pioneering domed education building that will lead in the development of low embodied carbon construction.Robertson Construction will build the Futures Institute at Dollar Academy (FIDA) in central Scotland.Designed by Eden Project architect Grimshaw, the domed educational center in Dollar, near Stirling is set to achieve the country’s first Living Building certification.The project seeks to minimize embodied carbon with minimal use of concrete in favour of glue-laminated timber.The building will be topped with a lightweight, glulam geodesic dome clad with insulated ETFE pillows and solid insulated panes with photovoltaic panels.With the majority of funding for the project now in place through investment and donations, it is hoped construction will begin shortly.Andrew Whalley, chairman of Grimshaw Architects, said: “The Futures Institute building is an exemplar of sustainable architecture.“The design aspects go beyond energy generation and integrating quality of light and natural ventilation; this building considers biodiversity, and its place in the broader landscape.”