Construction work is set to begin in the first week of May on Moray's flagship Early Years STEM project at Elgin Library, marking a significant milestone for the initiative.

Robertson Construction has been appointed as the main contractor for the renovation works, which are anticipated to take approximately six months to complete.

The project is a key component of the £100 million Moray Growth Deal. Funding includes £3.5 million in capital from the Scottish Government and £1.3 million in capital from Moray Council, supplemented by £1.6 million in revenue support from the council.

Elgin Library will host Moray's first specialist STEM facility, designed to provide interactive and curriculum-aligned learning experiences for young children. The STEM Starts Discovery Centre will be created by renovating the library's former drill hall space located at the rear of the building. This approach ensures the main library facility will remain fully operational throughout the construction period.

-- Advertisement --

Developed in collaboration with Glasgow Science Centre and design company Unusual Projects, the centre will feature hands-on exhibitions with themes reflecting life and work in Moray, supporting key elements of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence.

To ensure broad access across the region, the wider STEM project also encompasses:

A mobile STEM outreach unit for deployment in schools and communities throughout Moray.

Classroom-based resources designed to support educators.

Plans for future satellite hubs in Forres and Buckie.

A dedicated outdoor STEM learning environment.

While day-to-day library services will continue without major disruption, a small number of parking bays will be temporarily restricted to accommodate contractor cabins. Library events and activities will proceed as normal. Although bookable meeting and event rooms will be unavailable during the construction phase, the newly renovated spaces will be available for community use upon completion.

Councillor Marc Macrae, Chair of Moray Council's Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, said: "By introducing STEM to children early in their education journey, we aim to inspire a love of discovery that will stay with them through life and potentially into a future STEM career. This will play a pivotal role in inspiring the next generation of innovators and supporting Moray's future workforce."

He added: "It's fantastic to see construction getting underway, this marks a key milestone in delivering a facility that will benefit young learners across Moray for years to come."