A celebration was held yesterday to mark the midway point in construction of the new Inverness Royal Academy.
The topping out ceremony to mark completion of the highest point of the construction was different from the traditional ritual, which usually involves some rigid form of stone or metal being fixed in place.
At the academy the ceremony involved the inflation of a translucent roof over the school’s atrium.
The unique design will transmit 90% of visible light, which designers hope will create a bright and striking entrance to the complex.
The roof was inflated by the school’s head boy Marlon Hall and head girl Samantha Fraser, watched by senior staff from the school and construction workers.
Work on the £34million new school started in August last year and, once complete, will see a new four-storey building on the site of the existing Inverness Royal Academy’s grounds.
The new school is designed to cater for 1,420 pupils, and will have 39 practical, 40 non-practical and five tutorial classrooms with an additional six rooms being provided in order to accommodate a range of subjects to be taught in Gaelic.
The old school building on Culduthel Road will continue to operate until the new build is ready and will then be demolished to accommodate new sports facilities.
Development agency North Scotland has been tasked by the council to plan and deliver the project.
Chief executive Angus Macfarlane said: “This in an important milestone for the build of the Inverness Royal Academy and marks a year of construction work on the new facility.
“Progress on the site is continuing to gather momentum and the topping out ceremony has helped provide a visual demonstration of the work that has already went in to what will eventually be a first-class facility which will bring major benefits to the wider Inverness community.”
Councillor Drew Millar, chairman of the council’s education, children and adult services committee, said: “It has been good to come along today and have the chance to see how work is progressing and get a feel for just how bright, spacious and modern the new building will be.”
He added: “A good and prosperous school needs to be at the heart of its local community so I am pleased that community facilities will be incorporated in the school and I am sure they will be well used and supported. I look forward to returning next year when its doors open and a new era of education begins.”