News
Keep up to date with all our project news, hear topical insights and expertise from our people, see events you can attend and find out what’s happening within the practice.
Project News
UK's largest Passivhaus education building welcomes pupils today
We are ecstatic to announce that the visionary new Woodmill and St Columba’s RC High School has officially opened its doors, welcoming its first wave of pupils!
Date: 21 Aug 24
by AHR
min read
We are thrilled to announce that the visionary new Woodmill and St Columba’s RC High School has officially opened its doors, welcoming its first wave of pupils into this cutting-edge educational environment!
This progressive co-location of the Woodmill High School and St Columba’s RC High School and the nature of a joint campus, offer unique ways in which the pupils and the wider community can benefit from the many new shared resources, enhancing learner outcomes. Both schools are able to remain operationally separate and showcase their own identities due to the form, massing and interior design implemented.
Located within the new Dunfermline Learning Campus, this exemplary learning hub will sit alongside a new Fife College facility. Spanning an impressive 26,666 m², the new facility accommodates 2,700 pupils and 246 staff, making it the largest building built to Passivhaus standards in the UK. By optimising natural light, ventilation and air tightness throughout, this high performing learning environment promises to be energy-efficient, cost effective and comfortable. The ambitious scale of the building reflects an innovative strategic vision mapped around learners.
The campus provides a seamless learner pathway from second-level education through further education and training, towards business enterprise and employment. The learner journey is enhanced significantly through learning pathways across establishments located on a single campus.
Not only a centre of learning excellence, the building is also a great asset to the local community. The modern sports facilities are fully accessible by pupils, teachers, parents and the wider community and are capable of accommodating the needs of both large groups and individual users alike. Surrounded by green spaces, the building is home to a learning lab, with a community kitchen, performance space, state of the art recording studio, IT hub and multiuse media lab all available for use by the public.
As one of the first construction projects to apply the Scottish Government / Scottish Futures Trust (SFT)‘s new ‘Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard’, this is an SFT Pathfinder project. On track to achieve Passivhaus Classic certification later this year and setting a low embodied carbon value of 626 kgCO₂e/m², the campus is at the forefront of environmentally conscious design that will shape, inspire, and support the community for many years.
Explore the ways this visionary project will enhance learner outcomes now and into the future here
Project News
Our supported-living residential development in Bonnyrigg has achieved Passivhaus Classic Standard
Our single-tenancy residential development in Bonnyrigg, 83 High Street, has achieved Passivhaus Classic Standard, a significant step in minimising environmental impact.
Date: 25 Jul 24
by AHR
Practice News
Supporting local students with work experience placements in Huddersfield
To enable students to gain an insight into how all parts of our practice works, we offer a varied week which allows them to work within our numerous departments and see what our colleagues get up to.
Date: 24 Jul 24
by AHR
Podcast
How can we reuse buildings innovatively and creatively to meet demands now and into the future?
Guest Speakers: Robert Hopkins, Simon Lamprell, AHR
Date: 4 Jul 24
Hosted by Gurminder Sanghera
Director, Architecture
Latest Updates
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Bidding a fond farewell to Bryan Hamilton who retires after 42 years
16 Dec 24
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Celebrating a year of residential success in 2024
12 Dec 24
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Reflecting on the building consultancy projects that have shaped and supported our local communities this year
9 Dec 24
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How we’re supporting our clients’ maintenance and development plans through sophisticated MEP mapping services
9 Dec 24
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Reflecting on the impactful journeys we’ve shared with our clients and communities
4 Dec 24
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A focus on sustainablity
When creating or caring for buildings and spaces, every project counts. Through a range of methods and initiatives we seek to leave the world better than we found it, with responsible and healthy places.
Project News
Our supported-living residential development in Bonnyrigg has achieved Passivhaus Classic Standard
Our single-tenancy residential development in Bonnyrigg, 83 High Street, has achieved Passivhaus Classic Standard, a significant step in minimising environmental impact.
Date: 25 Jul 24
by AHR
Practice News
Achieving decarbonisation: a thought-provoking conversation in Manchester
Our third decarbonisation roundtable event of the year took place in Manchester, where participants joined us to discuss the challenges and opportunities in decarbonisation.
Date: 24 May 24
by AHR
Contributors
Gareth Banks
Regional Director, Architecture
Stephen Bottom
Director, Building Consultancy
Stuart Bryson
Regional Director, Architecture
Karle Burford
Director, Architecture
David de Sousa
Director, Architecture
Jamie Gregory
Associate Director, Architecture
Stefan Harris
Associate, Architecture
Robert Hopkins
Director, Architecture
Allan Hunt
Managing Director, Building Consultancy
Imran Kassim
Director, Architecture
Simon Lamprell
Regional Director, Architecture
Dominic Manfredi
Director, Architecture
Lee McDougall
Director, Building Consultancy
Gurminder Sanghera
Director, Architecture
Victoria Shepherdson
Associate Director, Architecture
Samantha Smith
Director, Building Consultancy
Mark Stead
Director, Building Consultancy
Matt Stephenson
Associate, Architecture
Amanda Taylor
Sales Director
Hira Teirney
Associate Director, Architecture
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