Moorpark Primary School: A Sustainable Timber Frame Solution for 21st Century Education
Article posted on: 29 August 2025
Moorpark Primary School in Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire, is a design-forward, modern education building that embraces sustainable design using timber frame construction.
Part of North Ayrshire Council’s Capital Investment Programme and delivered through the Hub South West Scotland framework, the project involved the design and construction of a new, purpose-built building to replace the town’s previous primary school,
Constructed by Clark Contracts, the building improves the quality of educational provision for the local community – with sustainability and the environment at its heart.
Moorpark Primary School
Image credit: Clark Contracts
Technical expertise
Clark Contracts appointed Clancy Consulting to provide structural engineering services on the project.
We then worked with our client, Robertson Timber Engineering, to finalise the timber frame kit design and bring this ambitious school building to life.
As a key strategic priority for North Ayrshire Council, the environmental performance of the building was a significant factor in the decision to use timber as the primary building material.
Initial designs specified cross-laminated timber (CLT) for the structural system, a more expensive option. Our team worked with the client and Robertson Timber Engineering to value-engineer the design, which brought down costs – a key requirement for the project.
As a result, the structure uses a traditional open-panel timber frame solution. This approach achieved the design ambition, maintained structural integrity and reduced embodied carbon.
Key features of the timber frame construction included:
• Faceted timber panels (typically 2.4m wide) to form the curved shape of the drum space
• 170mm standard timber studs across most of the building
• With 220mm studs used in the building’s signature drum structure to account for the increased height
• Glue-laminated beams (glulam), at 840mm deep, in the drum roof to provide structural strength and design clarity
Engineering Challenges and Solutions
The circular drum at the heart of the school presented a unique engineering challenge. Rather than relying on curved elements, we worked on a design that is broken down into faceted timber panels.
This enabled straightforward off-site manufacture of the timber materials and on-site assembly, which resulted in faster, more economical construction using repeatable components.
Another key structural requirement was the inclusion of a large water tank on the first floor, an unusual placement for this vital part of the building infrastructure. The design required a custom-designed steel frame to provide the necessary support within the timber structure.
Switching from CLT to traditional timber brought down costs and the programme length. It reduced the construction schedule from 22 weeks to 16 weeks, while also reducing costs for the client.
Collaborative Design and Delivery
The project’s success was underpinned by Clancy’s reputation for a highly collaborative approach to design consultancy and structural engineering.
After Clark Contracts brought us on board for engineered design input, we worked with Robertson Timber Engineering to deliver the timber frame kit design.
We worked closely alongside Robertson’s design team to resolve the complex structural and geometric detailing in the finished building.
The strength of this three-strong supply chain relationship aligned alignment structural design, manufacture, and site delivery in harmony. This enabled any issues with design and build to be resolved quickly, without hindering the programme delivery.
Sustainability
The decision to build Moorpark Primary School using timber illustrates the shift towards low-carbon construction methods, especially in Scottish public sector buildings.
Sustainable forest management can create a continuous supply of timber for use in construction. Timber absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows and requires less energy to produce during manufacture when compared to concrete or steel, making it a more sustainable choice for construction.
All of this will play an active role in reducing Moorpark Primary School’s long-term environmental footprint.
A Template for Future Sustainable Schools
Moorpark Primary School showcases what can be achieved by timber frame construction, when this highly sustainable material is engineered effectively.
The building, with its striking timber core, emphasises our commitment to engineering-led collaboration, thoughtful material selection, and intelligent structural design – all of which can deliver high-performance buildings that serve local communities and environments well into the future.
Learn more about our specialist timber engineer services. Or contact Wendy Thomson, Associate Structural Engineer, on wendy.thomson@clancy.co.uk to discuss your next timber frame engineering project in more detail.