Perth's new Riverside Primary School ready for pupils to come inside

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Today is a milestone moment for young learners in North Muirton, Perth as a new £16.5 million primary school opens.The ribbon is being cut at Riverside Primary School.The new building - Scotland’s first Passivhaus primary school - was built by Robertson Construction Tayside in the grounds of North Muirton Primary School with pupils from North Muirton and Balhousie Primary joining together.These schools were shut yesterday and Friday to allow staff to move across ahead of today’s big reveal.Riverside PS has a nursery, primary and an assisted support needs section.Environmental considerations have loomed large in the planning and build.The building has been built with a steel frame and has air source heat pumps.By being 15-20 times more airtight than a traditional build, it has 50 per cent reduced heat energy leakage.

For those in the classroom this will mean their new school will be warm in winter and comfortably cool in summer.The continuing warm weather will put the Passivhaus features to the test, hopefully demonstrating the perfect working environment from day one.The gym hall, dining room and assembly hall is one bright open space.Three separate staircases access the upper floor which is flooded with light from rooflights in the wide corridor as well as light streaming in from the classroom windows.Contractors revealed to curious kids that their new school has 105 windows and glazed doors and 145,000 bricks were needed to make it.Riverside Primary School had been due to open in April 2023 but the opening was pushed back to this week.Perth City Centre Councillor Chris Ahern said: “I am delighted to see Riverside Primary School finally completed and open to the pupils of the old Balhousie (Northern District for those