Project Snapshot

• Client – Perth and Kinross Council. The council has made a commitment to delivering new Council buildings to Passivhaus standards and Net Zero carbon by 2030
• The Challenge – Deliver the Council’s first certified Passivhaus Primary school
• What WARM did – As Passivhaus Certifiers, WARM supported the project team through all stages. We focussed on identifying risk early and resolving technical issues pragmatically on site.
• Why it matters – Riverside proved that Passivhaus schools can be delivered successfully, helping to build confidence in Passivhaus for wider public‑sector adoption.

Project Overview

Riverside Primary School provides accommodation for 462 pupils, 82 nursery pupils and 16 additional support needs pupils in Perth. Designed using a steel frame construction system. The SFS is infilled with insulation and covered in Wraptite airtightness membrane.

The Challenge

Delivering a steel framed Passivhaus school at this scale introduced specific challenges around thermal continuity, airtightness and services integration.

Alongside meeting Passivhaus performance targets and the Scottish Futures Trust target of 67 kWh/m²/year, the building needed to remain practical and intuitive for school operation. Long‑term success depends on how systems are installed, commissioned and understood by facilities teams.

The WARM difference

Improving system performance

During design review, WARM identified high standby heat losses associated with point‑of‑use water heaters. This prompted a reduction in hot water storage capacity and a partial move towards centralised hot water provision. This delivered clear energy and carbon savings.

Reducing Risk of Thermal Bypass

On site, WARM also instigated detailed checks of mineral wool insulation installed behind the cladding system. This reduced the risk of open‑loop thermal bypass, protecting fabric performance and avoiding future heat loss issues that would be difficult to remedy once construction was complete.

From the project architects, Architype:

"The WARM certification team were very much behind us in delivering the 1^st steel frame Passivhaus Primary School in Scotland. They were very involved in the development of the project and supported the wider team by being very accessible and clear in their requirements, and were critical in how well the building is performing currently well into year 3 of operation."

Why This Project Matters

For the client, Riverside Primary School provided reassurance that Passivhaus can be delivered successfully for large public buildings in Scotland, supporting long‑term energy affordability and comfort.

The project strengthened WARM’s experience in certifying large, non‑domestic Passivhaus buildings. We used the knowledge gained here to collaborate with Architype, writing a paper for the Passivhaus trust which helps others understand working with Steel in Passivhaus Construction

From the Riverside Primary School handbook for parents:

"Our school building is spectacular ... We benefit from excellent air quality and a constant comfortable temperature. One little learner has commented, “it’s like a puddle of warmth for me to be in."

Awards

• 2026 - CIBSE Building Performance Awards Project of the Year - Education
• 2025 - Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Award
• 2025 - Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Special Category Award: Sustainability Award
• 2025 - Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Special Category Award: Client of the Year Award
• 2023 - Innovation in Delivering a Sustainable Learning Place, The Learning Places Scotland Awards

Project Information

• Passivhaus Classic
• 462 pupils, 82 nursery pupils and 16 additional support needs pupils
• Treated floor area: 3,613 m²
• Form heat loss factor 2.3
• Space heating demand 15 kWh/(m².a)
• WARM project lead: Liam M^cDonagh-Greaves