A new chapter in sustainable education has begun with the completion of Currie Community High School in Edinburgh.

Delivered by Kier on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, the new school is Scotland's first Passivhaus-certified school to include a swimming pool.

The £65 million project, located on Dolphin Avenue, replaces the original 1960s building. Designed to use up to 70% less energy than a traditional building, it features airtight construction, triple-glazed windows and a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery to ensure a comfortable indoor environment. The building is also designed to withstand predicted climate changes up to 2080.

The new school comprises three floors of teaching spaces, a theatre, and extensive sports and leisure facilities. A wellness centre, a meeting room and a café are included in the main entrance foyer to provide community spaces for informal meetings and socialising. The adjacent swimming pool block was constructed using low carbon footprint materials such as cross-laminated timber, chosen for its sustainability features.

Beyond the build, Kier awarded over £20m in contracts to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and contributed over £7,000 to community initiatives through donations and fundraising efforts. The project also created 42 apprenticeship opportunities, offered jobs to three individuals who were previously not in employment, education or training, and generated 15 full-time equivalent roles locally.

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Kier's 'Constructing Futures' programme played a key role during the build, offering students from Currie and nearby schools hands-on experience in construction. Delivered in partnership with Edinburgh College and the Rural and Urban Training Scheme (RUTS), the programme has now been extended to align with other Kier projects across Scotland.

Sean Fenner, managing director at Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: "As the first Passivhaus school in Scotland with a swimming pool, Currie Community High School sets a new standard for low-energy design and long-term value. We're proud to have worked in close partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council to deliver a futureproofed school that will benefit generations to come—both as a place of learning and as a sustainable community asset.

"This is a special project that showcases our extensive sector expertise in delivering complex, high-performance education facilities."

James Dalgliesh, Children, Education and Families Convener, Councillor, said: "The handover of Currie High School marks a new era for staff and pupils alike, as well as the local community, and it's fantastic to see that the new school building is officially open.

"The new school has been designed with future proofing and sustainability front and centre. The design and landscape was informed and influenced by the school's senior leadership team to ensure that the needs of pupils were prioritised throughout. Alongside this, it was crucial that the building met our sustainability commitments, and it is fantastic that the school is one of the very first Passivhaus secondary schools in Scotland. I am thrilled that the school and wider community will benefit from this fantastic new building both now and well into the future."

Kier has delivered a number of Passivhaus projects including Mulberry Academy London Dock, a first-class energy efficient school. As well as St Sidwell's Point, the UK's first Passivhaus standard ultra-low carbon leisure centre.