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Futures Institute at Dollar Academy

Clackmannanshire, Scotland

The Futures Institute at Dollar Academy brings together progressive thinking on education and sustainability in a single, purpose-built environment designed to inspire new ways of learning.

Delivered in collaboration with Grimshaw Architects, º£½ÇÊÓƵ is providing multidisciplinary engineering services to realise a flexible, low-impact building that supports real-world, challenge-based education aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Located within the historic campus in Dollar, Scotland, the new Institute responds to the need for more equitable access to education and alternatives to traditional teaching and assessment. The design creates a light-filled, highly adaptable space that enables collaboration, experimentation and performance, while demonstrating how thoughtful engineering can underpin a more sustainable future.

Challenge

The project had ambitious sustainability aspirations, which had to be rationalised within cost constraints. Maintaining the integrity of the vision, while adapting to budget realities, required careful prioritisation of materials, systems and performance outcomes. The team sought to retain meaningful sustainability measures without overstating performance or relying on certification targets.

The building’s geometry presented another significant challenge. Its non-linear form, defined by a geodesic dome and complex spatial arrangement, required services, structure and architecture to be fully coordinated. Integrating exposed systems within this unconventional form, without compromising functionality or visual clarity, demanded close collaboration across disciplines.

The site itself added further constraints. Subtle variations in topography, combined with existing underground services, affected the routing of utilities and the placement of plant. Locating air source heat pumps and electrical infrastructure away from the main building to preserve the architectural setting added complexity to coordination and installation.

Solution

º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s engineers developed an integrated response that aligns structural, environmental and civil engineering strategies with the project’s educational and objectives. The building is centred on a lightweight, glulam timber geodesic dome, clad with insulated ETFE pillows and timber panels. This approach maximises daylight and passive solar gain while enabling effective natural ventilation during warmer months.

The internal environment has been designed to support a range of teaching formats. A double-height atrium forms the heart of the building, flooded with natural light and connected by stepped CLT (cross-laminated timber) seating that doubles as an auditorium. Flexible teaching spaces, workshops and laboratories are arranged around the perimeter, with extensive glazing to promote visibility and openness.

Structural engineering solutions prioritise both performance and spatial flexibility. Steel trusses at first floor level enable column-free spaces below, while a composite metal decking system with concrete topping provides the mass required for dynamic performance alongside underfloor heating. At the upper level, CLT decking supports planting, contributing to the building’s environmental quality.

The building is carefully integrated into its landscape setting. A grassed berm reduces its visual impact when viewed from the adjacent historic Playfair building, while retaining structures and a concrete ring beam provide support and coordination for the timber dome. This integration reflects a balance between architectural sensitivity and structural efficiency.

Mechanical and electrical systems are designed to support low-carbon operation while responding to spatial constraints. The building is fully electric, with heating and cooling delivered by air source heat pumps located in an acoustically controlled compound. Displacement ventilation in the atrium reduces energy demand, while distributed plant and services follow the building’s geometry to maintain exposed routes and minimise visual clutter.

Civil and ground engineering strategies extend the project’s sustainability ambitions. A new drainage scheme incorporates sustainable drainage systems, including an infiltration basin that manages surface water while enhancing biodiversity. This approach replicates existing drainage performance while accommodating the new building and its surrounding landscape.

Accessibility is embedded throughout the design. A freestanding lift within the atrium ensures equitable access, complementing the open, interconnected layout. Close coordination between disciplines enabled this feature to function both structurally and architecturally within the building’s central void.

Value

The Futures Institute demonstrates how multidisciplinary engineering can enable ambitious educational environments while responding to real-world constraints. By prioritising key sustainability measures and integrating them into the architectural concept, the project delivers a building that both performs efficiently and communicates its environmental intent.

The collaboration between engineers, architects and stakeholders has been central to the project’s success. This collaborative approach has ensured that the building remains both innovative and deliverable.

For students and educators, the Institute provides a flexible, inspiring environment that supports new approaches to learning. The openness of the space encourages interaction and transparency, while the integration of sustainable systems offers a tangible demonstration of environmental principles in practice.

More broadly, the project stands as an example of how schools can respond to evolving educational needs and climate challenges. By combining low-carbon design, adaptable spaces and a strong connection to the landscape, the Futures Institute sets a benchmark for future education buildings in the UK.

The Futures Institute is a hugely important initiative for us, and it has been reassuring to have such a capable and collaborative engineering partner involved. The team have consistently impressed and I would readily recommend º£½ÇÊÓƵ to anyone undertaking a project of this nature.

Ian Munro, Head of School, Dollar Academy