Graham Construction have been awarded the contract for the construction of the first new school ever built in the Cairngorms National Park. Work on the new £12 million community primary school at Aviemore for the Highland Council will begin on site at Muirton next month and is due for completion in April 2012.

The new school designed by Highland Council Architects is of a contemporary design, formed with four wings projecting around a main core area. Single storey in nature, simple in form and modern in appearance it expresses its function as a primary school and community hub, with a design and material which reflects the surrounding site and its woodland setting in particular.

It will include 10 primary classrooms, 2 general purpose classrooms and a resources area; a main hall; wrap around nursery unit and childcare facilities (with independent access); assisted support needs facilities; multi-purpose sports hall; kitchen and dining facilities; support for learning unit; biomass boiler and a fenced sports pitch.

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It will also feature a range of community facilities including a community library, sports changing facilities, multipurpose activity room, meeting room, learning centre and Service Point reception with interview rooms.

The project has been designed and will be project managed by The Highland Council’s Housing and Property Service on behalf of the Education, Culture and Sport Service. Management of the community facilities will be undertaken through a management agreement between Aviemore Community Centre Company and the Council.

The community is contributing £760,000 towards the project.

The Council has worked closely with the community for several years to ensure that the new complex will be the new community focal point of Aviemore. Willie McKenna, Chairman of the Aviemore Community Centre, has welcomed the early start to work at the site. He said: “This is another exciting milestone in this community project. We are all greatly looking forward to our new school which will bring our community together at one focal point.”

(GK)