Maybole Community Campus Celebrates Topping Out and Moves One Step Closer to Opening

Maybole Community Campus has moved one step closer to its opening as an official topping out ceremony took place on Friday 2 September.

The new facility will accommodate 1,370 pupils, from early years through to secondary school. It replaces the former Carrick Academy and will also be home to three primary schools, including the merging Cairn and Gardenrose Primaries, St. Cuthbert’s and a local nursery.

Pupils and staff will benefit from an attractive interior connected by spacious corridors and balconies, with new open plan teaching spaces and multi-use areas for the drama, music, art and science departments. Outside, pupils can enjoy a new rooftop playground, amphitheatre and games court. The campus will also host two full size rugby pitches, with the first already handed over and in operation by Carrick Academy and the surrounding community.

Open to the public, locals will be able to visit the campus’ community leisure facility comprising a swimming pool, cafe and gym.

The Maybole campus is set to open its doors in Autumn 2023 with the final handover in the summer of 2024.

Stuart Parker, Managing Director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We are excited to reach this important milestone at Maybole. Working collaboratively with South Ayrshire Council, hub South West and our supply chain has enabled us to take another step forward in delivering a state-of-the-art learning facility where pupils will feel inspired, whilst also helping to increase the number of Early Years places in Scotland with an Early Years Centre. We will continue to engage with the local community throughout the project, who will also benefit from a public swimming pool on campus which we hope will make a real impact on the surrounding area too.

Michael Ross, Chief Executive of hub South West Scotland, said: “The topping out of our new educational campus in Maybole is a huge milestone for hub South West and our delivery partners. Throughout this build programme, we have ensured that the local community is positively impacted - creating new jobs, apprenticeships, work placements and valuable training opportunities. Furthermore, we’ve been able to involve the local supply chain throughout its delivery and support smaller businesses.

“This new campus won’t only benefit pupils and staff, it will offer a wealth of amenities to promote active living amongst the local community.”

Councillor Martin Kilbride, Buildings, Housing and Environment Portfolio Holder for South Ayrshire Council said: “It’s fantastic to see Maybole Community Campus taking shape, the completion of the structure is a significant milestone. The next phase will be to make the building wind and watertight.”

Councillor Stephen Ferry, Education Portfolio Holder for the Council said: “When its finished, the campus will have capacity for 1,370 pupils and will help to boost learning and attainment. The Maybole Community Campus is sure to play a pivotal role in the transformation of the town.”

Lindsey Mitchell, Architect Director at BDP Architects, said: “Maybole’s new educational campus has been an exciting and rewarding project for our team at BDP. This unique design offers a dynamic setting which has the needs of the pupils at its heart, providing refreshing open spaces which will encourage and inspire learning. From the early planning stages to now, it’s been wonderful to see this building come to life.”