Work begins on build of new Passivhaus school in Edinburgh

A groundbreaking ceremony has been held at the site of Balfour Beatty’s build of the replacement Liberton High School in Edinburgh.The school is being constructed to Passivhaus standards and is due to be completed in early 2026, with the old school then being demolished within a year.Featuring a variety of inspirational and inclusive spaces for learning, the new school will have capacity for 1,200 pupils. Classrooms, studios, workshops, and science labs will connect and work with shared collaborative areas and breakout spaces, providing learners with more personalisation and choice over their learning environment.Sports facilities include a floodlit multi-use games area, basketball court, and athletics facilities. The current tennis and beach volleyball courts and mountain bike trail will be retained as will the sports block. A new fitness suite and dance studio will be provided to complement the existing sports facilities.The building has been designed to be energy efficient and will utilise high-performance windows and doors, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery to reduce carbon emissions, improve indoor air quality, and decrease heating bills.A key part of the new school will be the community campus features as it will include non-educational facilities such as a café, library, and flexible workspaces.MD of Balfour Beatty Scotland, Hector MacAulay MBE, was joined by head teacher, Alison Humphreys at the groundbreaking ceremony, with current school pupils and representatives from the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government also in attendance.Hector MacAulay MBE, MD of Balfour Beatty Scotland, said, “It was an honour to join with colleagues and pupils from Liberton High School today to mark this important occasion.“As we embark on the next phase of the project with construction now underway, we remain committed to delivering a modern, safe, and sustainable learning estate that will enhance and support communities and improve the lives of families in the local area.”Councillor Joan Griffiths, education, children, and families convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, added, “It was great to join pupils at the groundbreaking event for the replacement Liberton High School yesterday. Our new school campuses are innovatively and sustainably designed so they are inspirational places for learning for the next generation of young people creating a vibrant and thriving learning environment.“The Liberton Community Campus is a really exciting project which provides an amazing opportunity to create a community lifelong learning and sports hub to replace the existing school. This means public services can be co-located with links to active travel networks, green infrastructure and public transport networks.”