Morgan Sindall has celebrated reaching the topping out stage of its work building the new £13 million Stoneywood Primary School in the Bucksburn area in the north of Aberdeen.

The single-storey project will feature a sensory garden, an orchard with insect and bird boxes and open spaces of grass for sports and games. The building is being constructed using a cross-laminated timber framework covered in a range of external finishes including glass, render and cladding. It also includes a number of sustainable features including low energy central heating and solar UV panels.

Morgan Sindall’s site team has completed the external structure and electrical works, and is now putting the finishing touches to the glazing. The building is on schedule for a spring 2018 handover, and the new school will open its doors to 434 pupils for the new 2018 school year.

Council Co-Leaders Jennifer Laing and Douglas Lumsden, along with Councillor John Wheeler, Education and Children’s Services Convener, and representatives from Morgan Sindall unveiled a rooftop plaque at the site of the former Bankhead Academy, which was demolished following a fire in 2012.

Stuart Parker, managing director of Morgan Sindall in Scotland, said: “Topping out is an important milestone in a construction project and it’s great to mark the occasion.

“We’re very pleased to be making such good progress on what is a valuable addition to the education offering in the local area, and one which breathes new life and purpose into a derelict site.”

Head Teacher Gael Ross said: “We are such a strong community at Stoneywood, pupils, staff and parents alike. It will be just great to be in our new home and everyone is really looking forward to it.”

Councillor Wheeler added: “This is a fantastic milestone for the new Stoneywood School which will be another amazing addition to capital investment in education across Aberdeen. This year alone we have seen the opening of the £5 million Greenbrae School extension and the ground-breaking Centre of Excellence at Orchard Brae and we also have the new Lochside Academy to look forward to as well.

“We’re delighted that pupils and staff at Stoneywood will have such a great facility to come to when the new school year begins.”