Our design for the  £16 million Milltimber Primary School in Aberdeen has completed. Designed for Aberdeen City Council, the new state-of-the-art facility offers increased capacity for 434 pupils and an additional 60 Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) places, ensuring that pupils in the growing catchment area can continue to attend their local primary school with other children from their community.

The school design is conceived around strong sustainable and placemaking principles – a cross-laminated timber structure chosen for its attractive aesthetic, durability, and sustainable credentials. Four teaching pavilions are arranged to provide classrooms with safe direct access to the outdoors, while the reception and assembly hall form a formal frontage to the public-facing side of the school. Enhanced outdoor play spaces and PE facilities promote health, fitness and wellbeing, and improved opportunities for outdoor curricular learning and social interaction.

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill, said: “This is an exciting time for everyone involved and we are delighted to welcome the pupils on their first day in Milltimber Primary School. Milltimber Primary School will serve the needs of the community for generations to come. It provides pupils and staff with modern facilities which not only enhance the learning experience, but also helps the Council provide the highest standard of education for our young people who are the future of our city.”

 Aberdeen City Council Educational Vice Convener Councillor Jessica Mennie said: “The completion of the school marks the latest milestone in our Expansion Programme. Having the very best facilities available is vital to our ambitious strategy around education delivery in Aberdeen – but the leadership team, staff and pupils are the most important part of the success.”

Milltimber, alongside three other new schools at Countesswells, Riverbank and Torry, are set to open in 2023, forms part of the Education New Build Programme which will contribute to the Council’s Learning and Childcare Expansion Programme.

Lynsey Cradock Headteacher, said: “This facility will provide a wonderful learning environment for our pupils which will enable them to grow, achieve and succeed not only now but also in the future. With all our wonderful facilities, we can truly become the heart of the community.”

The school was designed by our Edinburgh Studio, alongside Quantity Surveyor Faithful and Gould, Structural Engineer Fairhurst, Services Engineers Wallace Whittle, Landscape Designers Wardell Armstrong, and delivered by Contractor Robertson Construction Tayside Ltd.