
Opened: January 2022
Location: Western Harbour, Leith
A replacement building for Victoria Primary School opened in January 2022. The new school is located by the water in Newhaven and was designed by Holmes Miller Architects.
Classrooms
The bright and modern classrooms have been designed with a natural palette of light wood, accented with colours and furnishings that give a nod to the school’s location and history with a nautical/coastal theme. Floor to ceiling windows and doors looking out to the playground and views beyond really bring the outdoors in with an aspiration to improve health and wellbeing.
The use of flexible furniture in the classrooms allows for greater versatility for staff and students to teach and learn the way they want to; being able to quickly change the layout of the classroom for different activities.
Breakout
The school was designed to have a shared breakout space between two classrooms, each side of the space has its own sink and storage area and shared resources in the centre. Large glass sliding doors open up from the classrooms into this space to create good visual connection to the breakout space and allowing the three learning areas to open into one big space, two or three individual spaces.
Library
The library is a learning area that is open on two sides to the circulation space with views down to the lobby. It is a relaxing space with comfortable and homely furnishings that really appeal to both students and staff. There is a variety of flexible seating options that offer students choice over where and how they would like to work or read. The furniture offers opportunities for collaborative or individual study.
Around the School
Outdoors

The school’s classrooms are positioned in a U-shape around a courtyard area that allows easy access to the playground, good visual connection to the outside world and protects this area of playground against the prevailing south west/ westerly winds.