A group of donors, partners and contributors became inspectors for the day when they visited the site of the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI).

Graham Construction invited the visitors to High School Yards, where building has started on what is set to become a focal point for low carbon experts and networks from business, finance and the public sector.

The timber frame has been erected on the £10m project, which will be a 2333 square metre building on the site of Edinburgh's historic Old High School, retaining the old facade.


The project involves refurbishing and remodelling the space to deliver a cutting-edge innovation suite, lecture theatres, seminar rooms and exhibition and social areas.

The ECCI is hosted by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh Napier University.

An innovative approach to design and construction could see the ECCI become the first refurbished building in the world to achieve the industry sustainability BREEAM standard of Outstanding.

Features such as using harvested rainwater for use in the flushing of WCs, solar controlled glazing in the windows to keep occupants cool and remove the need for air conditioning and underfloor heating will all contribute to a 30% saving in energy consumption over the building's former performance.

Graham Construction regional director Neil McFarlane said: "The challenge of creating a building which could be the only one of its kind in the world is daunting, but one we are relishing being a part of."

The ECCI is expected to be completed in summer 2013.

(NE)