Following a fire in January 2020, pupils at Wallacewell Primary School in Robroyston were left devastated after their new outdoor classroom was destroyed. Upon seeing the impact which the damage caused, City Building vowed to rebuild the space in the hope of nurturing the children’s love of the outdoors.

Despite delays in construction due to shortages of materials amidst the pandemic, the headteacher and pupils of Wallacewell Primary School were joined by City Building and Rexel UK Ltd last week.

Rexel, a wholesale electrical provider, works closely with the construction firm as a supplier of smoke and fire alarms, which City Building’s workforce install in the homes of Wheatley Group customers and those of other housing associations. Both parties are generously covering the cost of construction, with Rexel’s secondary role in the project to highlight the devastation which fires can cause.

Amongst the workers was Councillor Allan Casey, a former apprentice joiner at City Building who hoped to support the local community with his handiwork. Councillor Casey supported current apprentices through the erecting of the timber frame during its construction.

Councillor Allan Casey said: “It is my pleasure to support City Building in their efforts to rebuild the lost outdoor learning classroom for pupils at Wallacewell Primary School. I hope that this classroom will inspire a love of nature in the children, and will encourage them to explore the environment around them.”

Alan Burns, executive director of City Building, said: “On behalf of my colleagues at City Building, we are very proud to be a part of this project with Rexel. The destruction of the original classroom was mindless, but it is heartening to see the excitement of Wallacewell’s Primary School children as the new outdoor classroom takes shape.”

Miranda Greene, key account manager at Rexel UK Ltd, said: “Rexel working in conjunction with City Building are very happy to support the rebuild of the Wallacewell Primary School Outdoor Learning Classroom.”