One of Scotland's leading architect practices has been chosen to head up the design team for the new £40m Portobello High School.

Edinburgh-based jmarchitects, whose headquarters are in Queen Street, are highly experienced in designing new schools in the United Kingdom.

The award-winning architects have been responsible for delivering over 70 schools in the last nine years at a cost of £500m, with some 60,000 pupils occupying their schools.

There is a strong local element to the design team which also includes Edinburgh-based companies like project managers Thomas and Adamson, engineering firm Rybka, consultant engineers Faber Maunsell, cost advisers Gardiner and Theobold. The final member of the design team is structural engineers Parsons Brinckerhoff who are based in Newcastle.

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Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, Convener of Education, Children and Families, said: "I am thrilled that we have appointed such a high calibre design team for Portobello High School.

"jmarchitects have a great track record in school design and it's great news that the core of our design team are Edinburgh-based. Their involvement will support our local economy at a difficult time for businesses.

"Like everyone else I am looking forward to seeing the designs for what I'm sure will be an iconic new building for the city."

Ron McFarlane, Director with jmarchitects, said: "We are delighted to be involved with this very important landmark project and look forward to continuing our close working relationship with City of Edinburgh Council and delivering a high quality educational facility for future generations."

(GK/JM)