Designed by Ryder and delivered through hub South East Scotland on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, the 14,185sqm QHS building comprises modernised sports facilities, including a new six-lane swimming pool – increasing in size from four lanes following community feedback – a new fitness centre, dance studio and floodlit 3G pitch.

The project also received funding through the Scottish Futures Trust for Low Carbon Innovation specific research, analysis and implementation during the design of the new building. This resulted in key design moves and additions through design phases being undertaken to enhance the overall building performance. These innovative additions are intended to provide significant benefits to both the quality of learning environments for young people and long term energy use.

The design approach responds to the unique character and surroundings of the school site. The landscape setting, the building’s scale in a semi rural context and materials choice all address the key characteristics of setting and scale.

Matt Haggerty, architectural director at Ryder and the project architect, said, “Ryder is hugely proud of the new Queensferry High School. We have especially enjoyed the opportunity to support a great forward thinking client in the City of Edinburgh Council. The project is the result of a great collaborative design and delivery process with a fantastic and dedicated team which has created a superb new education facility and learning environment with community accessible elements in the heart of Queensferry.”

The project has been delivered in two phases – the first was the construction of the new school on the playgrounds of the previous school, whilst the second involves the demolition of the previous school to allow for full landscaping to the north of the site. The second phase is due to complete in summer 2021.

Photography by Keith Hunter