Fermacell dry-lining features on new state-of-the-art school in Scotland

50,000m2 of Fermacell dry-lining features on a new state-of-the-art school in Scotland, one of the largest projects the manufacturer has ever supplied.

Fermacell BBA-approved 12.5mm gypsum fireboards have been used on the Ellon Academy Community Campus in Aberdeenshire. The fireboards feature throughout the main teaching block and the company’s cement bonded water and fire-resistant Powerpanel H20 boards in the area of the school’s 25m swimming pool.

Blockwork infill and curtain walling was installed throughout the steel-frame building, by up to ten men over a 17-month period. Specialist sub-contractor Bangivens Drylining carried out the work on behalf of main contractor Farrans Construction.

The old Ellon Academy Community Campus has been replaced with the new campus, split in two by a main road in the town centre. The new project is one of the most costly ventures undertaken by Aberdeenshire Council, receiving a BREEAM “very good” rating.

In addition to the swimming pool, it also comprises a theatre with cinema-style seating and projection for assemblies, two gymnasiums, four games halls, outdoor sports pitches, five community rooms, a fitness suite and a canteen with space for 240 people at any one time.

Groups such as the local photography club and a nursery and creche were earmarked to use the community rooms, while the North East Scotland College Ellon Learning Centre offers full and part-time courses in another part of the building.

A different field of study is devoted to on each of the three floors, with the ground floor home to sports and physical education facilities, creative arts studios, media and music departments and the canteen.

While the second floor features a dedicated third and fourth year community area as well as the maths, business education and science departments.

Then the top floor is for fifth and sixth year students and is the base for the humanities, history, English and geography departments as well as featuring a library with museum-style glass cabinets for displaying local and historical items of interest.

Mike Porter, Ellon campus project manager explained that Fermacell was specified following the success of its use at Mearns Academy Community Campus prior to the construction of Ellon.

The product complied with acoustic performance etc dependent on build-up recommended and it primarily interfaced with door and window screens with no significant difficulty, he added. Consequently, the new campus is a well-lit, open environment which creates a good space to work and learn in.

The Fermacell boards can be used in poor or wet conditions due to the fact that they dry out naturally, enabling the programme to be finished a lot sooner, Francis O’Kane from Bangiven Drylining commented.

A new artwork on the glass front of the swimming pool allows the community campus’ roots in the old Ellon Academy to live on. Made up of messages from school pupils connecting the two buildings, the “River of Words” has been inspired by the local River Ythan and made in conjunction with artists in residence Mary Bourne.

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