The Project
The £3m project was Deanestor’s largest ever contract in the education sector and its third school fitting out scheme for principal contractors, Robertson Construction.
Since its completion the campus won Development of the Year (Public Buildings) at the Scottish Property Awards.
The project for Aberdeenshire Council was delivered by community infrastructure company hub North Scotland and accommodates 1,600 pupils. It provides a range of amenities for the wider community, including a youth café, community centre, six-lane swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, and other sports facilities. There are multiple community spaces, creative hubs, dispersed dining areas and learning plazas, as well as state-of-the-art teaching facilities.
Designed by architects Halliday Fraser Munro, the campus is also home to St Andrews School for children with special educational needs.
Fitting Out More than 300 Rooms in Just 26 Weeks
Deanestor furnished and fitted out 360 rooms across the campus in just 26 weeks, including:
- Science, food and design technology departments
- Specialist SEN facilities
- General teaching spaces
- Sports and changing areas
- Reception
- Library
- Offices.
The room layouts reflect the latest thinking in curriculum delivery and colours are bright and modern throughout with an interior design scheme that links all internal learning spaces.
A Highly Complex Furniture Project
The scale and complexity of the campus and the range of facilities that Deanestor fitted out demonstrate its capabilities and expertise in furniture manufacturing, procurement and project management. Deanestor’s designers worked closely with the design and construction team to implement the contemporary theme for the multi-purpose spaces and to deliver a really inspirational and innovative environment for learning and teaching.
The Furniture and Fitting Out Solution
Fitted furniture manufactured and fitted by Deanestor for the new campus included:
- 670 metres of laminate and laboratory worktops
- 400 base and wall storage units,
- Bag stores
- More than 500 items of metalwork
- 60 serviced units with power, data or water supplies – designed and manufactured by Deanestor for the laboratories.
Deanestor supplied and installed around 6,000 other items for the Inverurie project including tables and chairs, retractable seating for a performance studio, 375 locker units, soft seating, changing facilities, mirrors, teaching aids, sinks and around 100 white goods.
Other items supplied by Deanestor ranged from machinery for craft, design and technology; sports equipment and fitness machines to sensory items for the SEN school such as cushioned walls and floors, fibre optics, ball pit, trampolines and a water bed.
The Project Team's Perspective
Yunming Thomson, Design Director, Halliday Fraser Munro:
“We have had very positive feedback about the furniture. It was a clear client requirement to have the breakout areas and learning plazas well populated with a choice of seating. With Deanestor’s input, we have achieved a good variety of seating and storage options and in vibrant colours that work very well visually. We used a palette of greys for the fixed furniture and highlighted the colours for each learning zone with the flooring, seating and soft furnishings.”
“Deanestor did an excellent job of interpreting the client needs. The project has definitely exceeded our expectations and is an outstanding education facility.”
Cllr Gillian Owen, Chair, Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee:
“The quality of the learning environment at the new Inverurie Community Campus is second-to-none. It is absolutely brilliant to see young people now enjoying the facilities including the modern furniture. The colourful fitout is great.”
Iain Loud, Senior Design Manager, Robertson Construction:
“Deanestor met all our requirements for quality, cost, experience and strong financial stability. This was a fast-track project which needed an open and collaborative approach. Deanestor was happy to work with our client to develop the most appropriate level of specification within the available budget.”
“Deanestor’s furniture and fitting-out contract at Bertha Park School also went very well and feedback about their site team was hugely positive. Their design team was terrific, very committed and happy to go above and beyond when needed to meet client needs.”