Set to open later this year, the campus is Scotland’s first net-zero-ready tertiary education building and has drawn significant interest from across the public sector. The development achieved an exemplary embodied carbon footprint of just over 560kg CO₂e/m² for the Teaching Building and an average of 601kg CO₂e/m² across all three buildings—beating its original target of 650kg CO₂e/m².

This success is the result of strong collaboration between Fife College and project partners including Reiach and Hall, A10, Woolgar Hunter, Horner and McLellan, Balfour Beatty, and a specialist supply chain. As one of the pathfinder projects for Scotland’s Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard, sustainability was a core focus from the outset.

Innovative construction strategies have played a central role. Concrete floor slabs were replaced with Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) planks and Delta Beams made from 95% recycled steel. This lighter, low-carbon structural design significantly reduced the use of concrete in both the superstructure and foundations—cutting embodied carbon by approximately 20% compared to typical developments of similar scale.

As a signatory to the Race to Zero initiative, Fife College is actively pursuing climate action in line with the IPCC’s 1.5°C global warming target. The new campus is a key milestone in that effort.

Principal Jim Metcalfe said: “From the outset, we committed to net-zero and low-energy construction processes. Surpassing our carbon targets is a source of great pride and reflects our wider commitment to meaningful climate action. This state-of-the-art campus will provide a dynamic learning environment for our students and demonstrate how education can lead in sustainability.”

Stewart MacPhail, project director at Balfour Beatty, added: “The carbon performance achieved in the Teaching Building is the result of strong collaboration across all teams. Independent verification reinforces the credibility of our data and the value of innovation and teamwork.”

Jamie Goth, associate director for Net Zero at Scottish Futures Trust, praised the achievement: “Fife College’s campus is the first pathfinder project to meet external verification of key objectives under the Net Zero Standard. This sets a benchmark for future public sector projects across Scotland.”

ARMILA Sustainability Services provided the external verification. Managing director Leanne Hannah noted: “Verification is vital for ensuring carbon assessments are robust, detailed, and industry-comparable. It also helps identify emissions hotspots that can be addressed sector-wide.”

The project has embraced a range of additional sustainability measures. Balfour Beatty and Whitecroft Lighting introduced Geopak, a reusable packaging system that eliminated an estimated two tonnes of single-use packaging waste. Off-site fabrication of mechanical and electrical systems also reduced on-site waste and labour requirements.