‘Rising Rolls’ School Extensions

The 'Rising Rolls' project involved the creation of additional teaching accommodation, initially at three existing schools in Edinburgh. The new buildings were constructed within the playgrounds of the existing schools, which were kept operational throughout the project. Woolgar Hunter provided civil and structural design services on these developments and subsequently completed the Rising Rolls Phases 2, 3 and 4 which extended more schools.

The extensions utilised offsite pre-fabrication of timber kit structures, to reduce the construction periods on site, minimise the waste generated, and provide a low embodied carbon solution.

A particular challenge within these projects lay in dealing the existing below ground infrastructure; detailed below ground services surveys were required to ensure avoidance of clashes with services. Multiple diversions were required to clear sufficient development area. In addition, Scottish Water restrictions on drainage discharge and limited opportunities for on-site SuDS, meant that an involved process of approval was required for the additional drainage discharge.