Blackridge and St Mary's Early Years Centres in West Lothian won the 'Early Years and Childcare' award at the Learning Places Scotland Conference in Glasgow, where Hub South East and colleagues from the four other Hub companies in Scotland exhibited, highlighting the £2bn investment in learning estate being delivered through the Hub programme.
The early years centres for West Lothian Council comprise two modern nurseries containing flexible learning spaces encouraging indoor and outdoor education. This project delivered a first for Scotland, with an accredited non-domestic Passivhaus learning space and the opportunity to compare outcomes which will influence future learning estate design and help achieve aspirational net-zero carbon targets.
Castlebrae Community Campus, delivered on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council earlier this year, was named 'Inspired Learning Space' winner. The 700 capacity school has, at the heart of its design, a variety of spaces to support collaborative and inclusive practice, with three main learning plazas which provide opportunities for staff to plan innovative and creative learning experiences together, to further develop and apply skills for learning, life and work in different contexts for pupils.
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Paul McGirk, Hub South East's Chief Executive, said: "Some of the most innovative and inspiring learning estate in the country is being delivered for public sector clients through the Hub programme and we are delighted that both the early years project in West Lothian and Castlebrae Community Campus in Edinburgh were recognised as award winning at the Learning Places Scotland Awards. I'd like to congratulate all those involved in these fantastic projects including our clients and supply chain partners.
"Hub South East is proud to be entrusted with the delivery of new state-of-the-art spaces for learning which are not only enhancing the learner journey but are helping our clients achieve Scottish Government aspirations around the environment and the drive to net zero carbon, as well as providing additional opportunities for local communities. We look forward to continuing these successful partnerships moving forward. "
Dr. Elaine Cook, Depute Chief Executive of West Lothian Council, which also took the title 'Client of the Year' on the night, said: "We are delighted that our good work to invest in our learning estate was recognised at the recent Learning Places Scotland awards.
"To be awarded the Early Learning and Childcare award for our new centres at Blackridge and St Mary's in Bathgate demonstrates the innovative working taking place in West Lothian to provide the best possible venues for learning. Blackridge in particular is trail blazing as the first public nursery built using passivhaus principles.
"We would also like to thank our development partner Hub South East for their nomination as Client of the Year. To be named the winner in this category is a superb achievement, and highlights the positive working relationship between the council and Hub towards our shared goals of delivering first-class facilities for West Lothian residents."
Cllr Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: "I was so delighted to accept the award for the new Castlebrae Community Campus in the Inspiring Learning Spaces category. Just last week I had the great pleasure of speaking at their official opening and on my tour of the building it was obvious why the school won the award. The building has been designed with bright open spaces at its heart and the pupils I spoke to just loved being in their new school!"
