A major milestone in Scottish education has been achieved with the opening of the Dunfermline Learning Campus in West Fife. Purpose-built to inspire learning, the state-of-the-art facility spans 26,666 m² and accommodates 2,700 pupils and 246 staff, making it the UK’s largest building constructed to Passivhaus standards.
Gerflor has played a key role in the project’s success, supplying over 14,000 m² of high-performance flooring solutions including Taraflex® sports flooring, DLW Marmorette Linoleum, Tarasafe Safety flooring, and Powershock 300 rubber tiles. Alongside this, Gradus accessories including stair nosings and a variety of trim finishes were also supplied, the combined package of products from both Gerflor and Gradus were specified for their exceptional durability, safety, and style to meet the needs of the various areas across the facility.
The large variety of Gerflor and Gradus products were specified for key areas throughout the school, including the games and sports halls, fitness studio, circulation areas, reception, corridors, classrooms, changing rooms, WC’s and kitchen and servery areas. The project also extended to other versatile spaces designed to support the needs of students and staff, with flooring solutions that deliver long-lasting performance, practical design, and aesthetic appeal for diverse spaces across the facility interiors.
Commenting on the project, Maggie Smith, Scotland Team Leader at Gerflor, said, “We initially had only our Olympic pedigree Taraflex sports flooring and Powershock 300 Rubber tiles specified with the architects on this project. As partners on the Framework Agreement with BAM, we collaborated closely with them to review the overall project and identify areas where cost savings could be achieved on the flooring package, which had originally been specified by another supplier. This approach allowed us to ensure the best possible outcome for both the client and the project.”
Elaborating on the specification decision, Maggie added, “At Gerflor and Gradus, we were able to offer a comprehensive flooring and accessories package that not only met the project’s functional and aesthetic requirements but also delivered significant cost efficiencies. By tailoring our solution to align with the budgetary goals without compromising on quality, we demonstrated the value of working with a supplier who can provide both innovation and cost-effectiveness.”
The responsibility for installing the flooring products and accessories for this high-profile project fell to Veitchi Flooring, one of the UK’s largest and most respected flooring contractors.
Recognised as a market leader, Veitchi Flooring has built a reputation for setting the benchmark in quality and professionalism across the industry. With headquarters in Glasgow and additional offices in Dundee and Aberdeen, Veitchi Flooring offers the capacity and flexibility to handle contracts of any scale across the UK. Their extensive expertise and specialist knowledge allow them to provide tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each customer, ensuring exceptional results every time.
Commenting on the specification of Gerflor and Gradus products, Jamie Cargill, Contracts Supervisor at Veitchi Flooring, said, “The Dunfermline Learning Campus project was awarded through an open tender process, competing against other major flooring contractors across the UK. The client required a range of options to achieve cost savings without compromising quality. We recommended Gerflor and Gradus products because of their exceptional design appeal, durability, performance, and competitive price point … these were key factors in delivering an effective overall solution.”
Discussing the installation process, Jamie Cargill added, “Our team on site ranged from four to ten fitters, including one apprentice and a visiting supervisor. The project was completed within a fifty-week timescale, from start to finish, ensuring we met all deadlines while maintaining the highest standards of workmanship.”
The creation of Dunfermline Learning Campus has been a true collaborative effort, bringing together key stakeholders such as Fife Council, Fife College, the Scottish Government, and the Scottish Futures Trust. The project was procured and managed by hub East Central Scotland, ensuring that the campus was delivered on schedule and to the highest quality standards, meeting the needs of both the educational institutions and the local community.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth, commented, “This is an important milestone for the Dunfermline Learning Campus, and I know that the new school building will be of significant benefit to pupils, teachers and the local community.” Her statement reflects the broader impact of the project, highlighting its long-term value to the educational experience and for the area as a whole.
Summing up the project Jamie Cargill ended by saying, “Veitchi, BAM construction and the client are extremely pleased with how the new school has turned out. We have used Gerflor and Gradus products in the past on many varied projects with outstanding success. We will continue to specify Gerflor and Gradus for their consistently high-quality products that excel in both performance and design.”
Not only a centre of learning excellence the building is also a great asset to the local community. The modern sports facilities are fully accessible by pupils, teachers, parents and the wider community and can accommodate the needs of both large groups and individual users alike.
Maggie Smith concluded, “The new installation of interior flooring and accessory products from Gerflor and Gradus deliver an impressive visual impact. The school has only been open a few months and the client is delighted with the final finish and overall performance of our world class products.”
With the addition of the Gerflor Winsford Warehouse in 2020/21, which boasts over half a million m² of flooring readily available on its shelves, the Dunfermline Learning Campus project benefited significantly from streamlined supply chain management. This state-of-the-art facility not only ensures an extensive stock of bestselling products but also reduces lead times and supports efficient distribution across the UK.
For the Dunfermline project, this meant having immediate access to the required flooring materials without delays, ensuring that the project timeline was met seamlessly. The strategic location of the warehouse further enhanced logistical efficiency, enabling quick and reliable delivery to the site. By leveraging the scale and capability of Winsford’s operations, Gerflor demonstrated its ability to handle large-scale projects with precision and consistency, reinforcing its reputation for excellence in supply chain management.
Supporting Information
Gerflor Company Overview
Gerflor is a manufacturer of comprehensive contract interior flooring solutions, including vinyl, linoleum, carpets, and rubber. Gerflor innovations help to create attractive and functional environments, as well as enhance and protect a host of educational interiors. Gerflor solutions are proven to improve the longevity of a building whilst reducing long term maintenance costs. Gerflor works in partnership with the education sector to ensure buildings are safe and accessible for all users.
Gerflor products overview specified for Dunfermline Learning Campus
Taraflex® Indoor Sports Surfaces
Taraflex Performance® is available in 17 all over colours and 4 wood-effect designs as standard, with an addition of 110 solid colour options available. It offers a P2 category shock absorbency of 35% to 45% complying with EN 14904. Taraflex Performance is part of the Taraflex indoor sports vinyl collections that are suitable for a wide range of sports, offering excellent friction, preventing slips, and minimise injury should a user fall. Available in a range of surface options, it provides superior shock absorption and optimal safety. Featuring advanced D-Max™ and CXP™HD foam technology, these innovative surfaces are highly durable. All the Taraflex sports vinyls are compliant with EN 14904, meeting the standards for safe indoor sports floors, reducing injury risks and delivering long-term performance.
Used in every Olympic Games since 1976, Taraflex® is widely recognised by sports bodies and installed in schools, universities, colleges, community centres, fitness facilities, and more.
Over six million children everyday enjoy the benefits of Taraflex® sports flooring, which can be used for various multi-specialist sports and leisure applications. These world class surfaces are cost-effective to maintain and ideal for both new build and refurbishment projects and require no polishing due to its Protecsol® surface treatment.
Tarasafe Ultra and Tarasafe Ultra H2O Safety Flooring
The Tarasafe Ultra and Ultra H²O vinyl collections are a range of slip resistant sheet floorings that meet HSE guidelines. They are constructed from vinyl with deeply inlaid mineral crystal particles (patent pending) and coloured chips for a decorative design. Contains no Carborundum.
Tarasafe Ultra comes with a SparClean® surface treatment and is reinforced with a glass fibre grid and is suitable for use in all areas of heavy traffic where slip-resistance, durability and hygienic conditions are required. It is also treated with an anti-bacterial and fungicidal treatment. This product comes with a 12- year warranty and is 100% recyclable, when the product is at the end of its’ life and contains 29% recycled content.
Tarasafe Ultra H²O is a high performance, slip resistant, safety flooring for wet and dry, barefoot and shod applications. This enhanced slip resistant safety vinyl floor covering has a raised emboss and is designed for applications where there are continuous wet areas. It provides exceptional barefoot comfort and is an ideal solution for wet rooms, showers and changing rooms.
Tarasafe Super is a slip resistant safety vinyl floorcovering, with a PVC wear layer and deeply inlaid mineral crystal particles (patented). It is reinforced by a glass fibre grid and available in a sheet format. According to ISO 22196, it has anti-bacterial activity against MRSA of 99% after 24h00. Tarasafe Super is suitable for most education settings and areas in kitchens and serveries. It is eco-friendly, 100% recyclable, Floorscore® certified and does not contain any heavy metals or CMR 1&2, it is also 100% compliant with REACH. The product emission rate of volatile organic compounds is < 100 μg/m3 (TVOC after 28 days – ISO 16000 -6).
DLW Marmorette Linoleum
DLW Marmorette is a calendered linoleum compact floorcovering in sheet, 2m wide, providing excellent resistance to everyday wear and tear in high traffic areas.
Stylish and sustainable DLW Marmorette is the ideal solution for specifiers seeking a more modern look in a host of school settings.
Made up of 98% bio based and mineral materials, Gerflor’s DLW Marmorette Linoleum is extremely durable thanks to its triple laser UV cross-linking technology. It’s produced with Gerflor’s exclusive Neocare™, a solvent-free surface treatment, making it scratch resistant, resistant to chemicals such as bleach and it doesn’t require any sealing or waxing. Gerflor’s Marmorette Linoleum is incredibly versatile.
The Gerflor Marmorette collection comes in a marbled design with a matt finish. It offers a wide selection of colours, from bright staple pieces such as ‘Sunset Orange’ and ‘Lobster Red,’ to neutral shades such as ‘Sand Beige’ and ‘Leaf Green.’
With 64 unique colours available it provides specifiers with an incredible range of design choices.
Gerflor’s Marmorette is also carbon neutral as well as using up to 40% recycled content and is certified by many eco-labels, including Blue Angel, M1, Floorscore and Cradle to Cradle. Hygienic properties: antibacterial activity (EN ISO 22196) and antiviral activity (ISO 21702).
Powershock 300 Rubber Tiles
Powershock 300 is a hardwearing, high-impact rubber flooring ideal for free weight and heavy weight areas in gyms and other areas within a leisure facility. The 30mm thick tiles offer 5 times more resistance to indentation compared to standard rubber flooring and is also extremely easy to clean and maintain. Pre-installed connector pins ensure simple and fast and easy installation, while the vulcanised rubber construction provides remarkable strength and outstanding durability. Powershock 300 is non-porous, odourless, and delivers excellent shock absorption and sound insulation (26dB). It protects subfloors and is perfect for high-performance gyms and education spaces where durability is essential.
Learn more about Gerflor solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01625 428 922, emailing contractuk(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gerflor.com, or visiting gerflor.co.uk for the latest flooring innovations.
Gradus Company Overview
Gradus is a manufacturer of comprehensive contract interior solutions, including stair edgings, floor trims, barrier matting, lighting, and wall protection. Gradus innovations help to ensure that buildings are safe and accessible, whilst also providing inclusive environments for all users. Gradus products enhance safety, aesthetics, and sustainability in schools and across other educational facilities.
Gradus products overview specified for Dunfermline Learning Campus
AS12 stair edging (nosing) comprises of an aluminium channel with a choice of insert material. It can be used in conjunction with floorcoverings from all major manufacturers and is suitable for education, commercial and most industrial applications. This square, double channel profile features an 84mm tread and 32mm riser, with a 2mm gauge ideal for use with LVT or resilient flooring. At the time project was installed AS12 stair edging was installed, this has now been superseded with the AS13 profile.
TA5B is an aluminium side trim with a 3.5mm gauge for use in conjunction with stair edgings to form a neat and attractive edge around the open end of a step by concealing the edge of the floorcovering and stair edging.
RT35M/AFT13 is a metallic finish, two-piece, ramp top transition profile from the Clip-Top range. Clip-Top reduces the risk of accidents for pedestrian and trolley traffic by providing a safe link between floorcoverings. RT35M top combined with AFT13 base provides a transition between hard flooring, carpet and carpet tile of 5mm height (compressed thickness). Ideal for use in a range of school settings and interiors.
EJC50 from Gradus is a flexible pvc construction joint cover used to provide a cover for construction joints. This provides a neat solution that allows for minor movement that occurs.
Learn more about Gradus solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01625 428 922, emailing imail(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gradus.com, or visiting gradus.com for the latest barrier matting, wall protection, lighting, and flooring accessory innovations.