Warddykes Primary, Arbroath

The new Warddykes Primary School in Arbroath forms the first phase of Angus Council’s major investment programme to upgrade the town’s primary schools. It was a 'tandem build' with Timmergreens Primary and Muirfield also receiving improvements.

The project was led by our development and procurement partner, hub East Central Scotland, with Angus Council's in-house architects designing the building and Robertson Tayside leading construction.

It has 11 classrooms for its 280-plus pupils to learn, along with a nursery that can accommodate up to 40 children. There is a multi-purpose hall, dining hall and library, as well as general purpose rooms and tutorial spaces.

The previous school buildings served the community for 47 years. Now, in its place is a bright and multi-functional facility that offers a modern environment for learning. The design maximises the available natural light with near-full height windows and a clerestory and roof-lights located within the central activity spaces.

Playground spaces are situated on the upper and lower levels of the school grounds, along with an amphitheatre that is built into the hillside.

Warddykes Primary remained in situ throughout the construction of the new school, meaning that the construction programme had to be carried out with great sensitivity to safety, noise levels and logistics.

Robertson completed the project on time and on budget, stepping in after the previous contractor had gone out of business. Meeting the new deadline without delays was essential to ensure pupils could start school for the 2016-17 year.

The final stages of the project will see work on the playing fields and the demolition of the previous Warddykes school building, with completion by the end of 2016.