A topping out ceremony has been held to mark the halfway point in the development of the new £34m Inverness Royal Academy.

Main contractors Morrison Construction, along with representatives from The Highland Council, hub North Scotland and Inverness Royal Academy, came together at the event on 18 August.

The ceremony celebrated the completion of the highest point of work on the building.

Councillor Drew Millar and hub North Scotland Chief Executive Angus Macfarlane led the ceremony, which involved the inflation of the twin-skin translucent roof over the facility's atrium.

The unique air-filled system allows for the transmission of over 90% of visible light, helping create a bright and 'striking' entrance to the complex.

Work on the new school, which is part of The Highland Council's modern schools building programme, began last year in August.

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Once complete, it will see a new four-storey six-year high school built on the site of the existing Inverness Royal Academy.

The new school, which will consist of 15,963 sq m of floor space, is designed to cater for 1,420 pupils and will have 39 practical, 40 non-practical and five tutorial classrooms with an additional six rooms being provided in order to accommodate a range of subjects to be taught in Gaelic.

The existing school at the site on Culduthel Road will continue to operate during construction and will be used to accommodate a range of sports facilities once the new school is completed.

Angus Macfarlane, chief executive of hub North Scotland, said: "This in an important milestone for the build of the Inverness Royal Academy and marks a year of construction work on the new facility.

"Progress on the site is continuing to gather momentum and the topping out ceremony has helped provide a visual demonstration of the work that has already gone into what will eventually be a first-class facility which will bring major benefits to the wider Inverness community.

"Successful partnership working really is at the heart of the hub model and we look forward to continuing to work with The Highland Council and main contractor Morrison Construction to enhance the modern school provision within the region."

Donald Mclachlan, Regional Director - Highland, for Morrison Construction added: "The inflation of the last area, the twin-skin translucent roof, is another exciting step towards the school's completion, which is on time and budget, and we are all looking forward to seeing Inverness Royal Academy open to the pupils next June."

(LM)