For the occasion, project partners from Aberdeen City Council, hub North Scotland and Robertson Construction were joined by Hazlehead Academy’s head teacher and pupils to sign the steel frame before it was enclosed within the building.

Construction of the new campus, one of the council’s largest school estate projects, started in March this year, with roughly 80 truckloads of steel delivered to the site in August.

Once completed, the campus will feature two full-size all-weather pitches as well as an athletics sprint track.

Aberdeen City Council’s development partner, hub North Scotland, is delivering the project, with Robertson Construction delivering the construction work. 

It is the first project to start construction via hub North Scotland’s North Schools Programme and has received Scottish Government Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) Phase 3 funding, which on behalf of the Scottish Government, is managed by the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT). 

Councillor Alex McLellan, convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, Aberdeen City Council, said: “The completion of the steel frame is an important milestone in the delivery of the new Hazlehead Academy Campus and demonstrates the progress being made on this major investment.”

Councillor Martin Greig, convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, Aberdeen City Council, said: “The new Hazlehead Academy Campus will provide a modern learning environment for pupils and staff and will serve communities across the west of Aberdeen. 

“Reaching this stage of construction is an exciting moment for the project and brings us another step closer to welcoming pupils into their new school.”

Scott Adams, project director, hub North Scotland, said: “The completion of the steel frame is a significant milestone and a testament to the commitment and collaboration shown by all project partners. 

“The new Hazlehead Academy Campus will provide modern, high-quality facilities that support the city’s future and deliver lasting benefits for the local community through education, employment and skills development.”

Elliot Robertson, chief executive officer, Robertson Group, said: “As the first school under construction through hub North Scotland’s North Schools Programme, the campus sets the standard for a programme that will deliver high-quality learning environments, support educational outcomes and create lasting benefits for communities across the region.”

Stephen Long, senior associate director at SFT, said: “SFT [is] pleased to celebrate this milestone in the delivery of the Hazlehead Academy Campus project. 

“As part of the Scottish Government’s LEIP Phase 3, it will assist in the transition to net zero by minimising embodied carbon during construction and operational energy consumption, while eliminating on-site emissions.”

The Hazlehead Academy Campus is being built on the current school’s playing fields, enabling Hazlehead Academy to stay completely operational over the construction period. 

In August 2028, the new facility is due to be operational, with the demolition of the current school buildings and the delivery of external sporting facilities expected by summer 2029.

The completed campus will cater for up to 1,600 pupils. 

An expanded catchment area including the Hazlehead, Countesswells and Kingswells communities will be served by the campus. 

The project has also received £100,000 from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund, supported by National Lottery funding, towards the delivery of the athletics sprint track, which will support pupils, local clubs and the wider community.