UK-based infrastructure group Balfour Beatty has initiated the construction of the new Nairn Academy school in Scotland.
The Highland Council awarded the £61m ($77.1m) contract to Balfour Beatty at the end of 2024.
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This new 9,767m² project will replace the existing secondary school, and accommodate 745 students, and feature a new 3G artificial grass sports pitch once completed.
The new school will be the fourth Passivhaus certified building by Balfour Beatty in Scotland, following the contract in 2023 for the new Liberton High School campus in Edinburgh.
Balfour Beatty will install “high-performance” windows, doors, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery to achieve Passivhaus certification. This approach will cut reduce carbon emissions, improve indoor air quality, and minimise energy consumption.
The company is also collaborating with the Construction Industry Training Board and Inverness College UHI to generate ten apprenticeship positions for local youth.
The project is expected to reach completion in 2026 and will create jobs for 170 people at its peak construction phase.
Balfour Beatty Scotland managing director Hector MacAulay MBE said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver this latest new campus, further enhancing our legacy in delivering state-of-the-art, sustainable educational facilities across Scotland.”
“With works now underway, we are working closely and collaboratively with the Highland Council to successfully deliver this new school which will provide an exciting and inspirational learning environment for hundreds of students and teachers, serving both current and future generations.”
Earlier in February 2025, Balfour Beatty secured a £12.6m ($15.7m) contract with Nottingham City Council to construct an 85 metre long pedestrian and cycling bridge over the River Trent.
