MORGAN Sindall Construction has handed over the keys to a £15.1 million educational campus for West Dunbartonshire Council in Renton, West Dunbartonshire.
The main contractor has delivered the multi-use campus consisting of a new home for Renton Primary School. Pupils will now glide into lessons thanks to an impressive slide which connects two terrace playgrounds.
The campus also includes a new language and communication unit (LCU) and the new Riverside Early Learning and Childcare Centre (ELCC).
Renton Primary School LCU and Riverside ELCC now provide 220 primary school pupil spaces to the area along with 80 in its nursery provision. The previous primary school on Back Street will be demolished.
Morgan Sindall Construction was awarded the contract as part of the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA), which aims to enhance social value in communities.
Throughout the project, the tier one contractor engaged with the community through the council’s Food Growing Strategy and Generations Working Together programme to deliver a food allotment. Children will help grow fruit and vegetables with other people from the local area and get the chance to taste the fruits of their labour at their new school canteen.
Morgan Sindall Construction donated educational and story books to the school, some of which aim to tackle gender stereotypes.
The main three-storey building was designed by architects, Holmes Miller, in line with the Scottish Government’s Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) programme and focused on modern methods of teaching.
Teaching at 35,000 sq ft Renton Primary School will now take place in large, open plan learning areas which will be adjustable thanks to an innovative use of furniture, which can be reconfigured for different class groups into spaces termed ‘campfires’. Special acoustic baffles have also been installed to help control the noise level.
An enhanced setting has been provided for children with language difficulties thanks to a language and communication unit (LCU) provision throughout the school.
Outside features include a cycle shed and parking area with 68 spaces – six of which with accessible bays, whilst two will have electric car charging capabilities. The increase in parking spaces means that all teachers will be able to park at the school as opposed to the high street which was previously used due to lack of capacity.
Stuart Parker, managing director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Scotland, said: “We have had a fantastic relationship with the school throughout the development of their new home and we want to thank the staff, pupils and parents for their cooperation throughout.
“Renton Primary School has had quite a transformation; we have loved hearing how popular the new outdoor slide and play areas are with pupils and their improved learning facilities have been well received by teachers.
“We are grateful for our partnership with Scottish Procurement Alliance which has allowed us to successfully deliver another facility fit for twenty-first century education in West Dunbartonshire.”
Outdoor phase two works now begin, which consists of a multi-use games activity pitch which will be complete in July 2022, in time for the new school year.
