We’re delighted to share a selection of recently taken photographs of the completed Kinmylies Early Learning and Childcare Centre in Inverness, designed by Colin Armstrong Architects for The Highland Council as part of the wider Charleston campus.

The building adopts a straightforward, context-driven form; a single-storey arrangement that responds to site levels and provides a clear, legible entrance for staff, children and parents. A robust external palette and continuous covered frontage were used to balance civic presence with durability and ease of maintenance. The project was delivered on site by Morrison Construction.

The internal layout is organised around open-plan, paired classrooms with direct access to secure external play areas. Large doors support free-flow learning and strong supervision between internal and external spaces.

Daylighting was a key design consideration. Classrooms are naturally lit through a combination of perimeter glazing and rooflights, providing consistent light levels throughout the day. Given the open-plan arrangement, acoustic performance was carefully coordinated to ensure spaces remain calm and usable in practice.

From an environmental and technical perspective, the project follows a fabric-first approach, supported by heat recovery ventilation to maintain indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Low embodied energy materials were used where feasible, alongside construction methods that supported build quality and programme certainty. Structural and civil engineering design was provided by Fairhurst, with M&E design by CDMM.

The completed nursery is a practical, well-resolved building that demonstrates how clear briefing, coordinated design and technical rigour can deliver efficient, robust learning environments for early years education.

Photographs courtesy of Morrison Construction