Kier has awarded Spie UK an £8 million contract to carry out mechanical and electrical (M&E) works on a new secondary school campus in East Ayrshire.

The new £45.3m William Mcllvanney Campus is being built by Kier in Kilmarnock. It will accommodate the merger of Kilmarnock Academy, James Hamilton Academy, New Farm Primary and Early Childhood Centre and Silverwood Prim, as well as a third new school (Sgoil na Coille Nuaidhe) to replace the existing provision offered at Onthank Primary School and Grange Academy.

Designed by NORR Architects, the 18,360m² campus will be built to minimise overall energy consumption while adapting to a variety of interactive and collaborative teaching and learning needs.

Spie's M&E includes the installation of Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW), heating (including underfloor), domestic water services, syphonic drainage, data-voice, LV Switchgear, stand-by generator, lighting and power, combined heat and power unit, ventilation, fire sprinkler system, fire alarms and security systems. The installation will also feature a daylight-linked PIR lighting control system, including absence detection in classrooms.

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Overall, the campus will contain around 1,465 secondary, 383 primary and 160 early years pupils between the ages of 2-18 once completed.

Other features will include a multi-use games area as well as flexible community facilities.

Previously, Spie carried out a £7m multi-technical services contract at North Ayrshire Council's 17,000m² Garnock Community Campus project.

Will Smith, Managing Director of SPIE UK's Multi-Technical Services Scotland division, said: "We're delighted to have been selected by Kier Construction for another prestigious and pioneering venture in the Scottish education sector, following on from our works at Garnock Community Campus.

"Today's rapidly transforming learning environment and tools demand flexibility and ease of maintenance, and therefore we will be incorporating the latest state-of-the-art technology and energy efficiency initiatives during the design phase.

"The campus will generate substantial employment, growth and investment opportunities across East Ayrshire, whilst creating the infrastructure to support continuous education of young people in Kilmarnock and the surrounding areas."

Brian McQuade, Kier Construction's Scotland managing director said: "Education continues to be a prominent sector for Kier and we're delighted to be working in partnership with SPIE once again to deliver this latest contemporary build in Ayrshire.

"The SPIE team brings significant mechanical and electrical works prowess to the design process, particularly in the field of energy management, which is an important part of this innovative solution."

(LM/MH)