The Innovation Hub is a landmark development in Dundee, located beside the University of Dundee’s city centre campus.  The facility includes flexible turnkey spaces, advanced laboratory support, and access to the University’s world-class technology platforms.

FES was appointed as the M&E partner for the project, responsible for delivering a fully integrated solution tailored to the needs of biotech, MedTech, and informatics companies.  We delivered a comprehensive design and build package, incorporating full BIM integration for precise coordination, early contractor involvement with detailed service modelling, and specialist systems such as fume extract ventilation.

To enhance efficiency and quality, FES employed advanced digital tools and construction methods. BIM was used extensively for clash detection and spatial planning in tight service zones. Off-site prefabrication was maximised to reduce on-site labour and meet tight deadlines. 3D scanning of rooftop plant was integrated into the final model for accurate documentation and future maintenance.

Quality assurance was maintained through continuous inspections by an independent Clerk of Works, ensuring compliance and early issue resolution. The project achieved a 100% quality rating at final inspection, with minimal defects at handover, reflecting the team’s attention to detail and commitment to excellence. FES also prioritised local labour and suppliers, reinforcing the project’s economic and social value to Dundee.

 The Innovation Hub stands as a testament to innovation, collaboration, and expert delivery, with FES’s proactive approach and use of cutting-edge technologies playing a vital role in creating infrastructure that supports Scotland’s life sciences future.

The ARC Building is a major research facility delivered as part of the University of Glasgow’s £1bn Campus Development Programme. The 16,000m² centre brings together world-leading researchers to explore major global challenges ranging from energy demand to waste management. The building has been intentionally designed to enable deep collaboration between disciplines, encouraging new thinking, shared research practice and meaningful industry and public engagement.

FES delivered the full mechanical, electrical, digital engineering and specialist laboratory services for the ARC. Work included site-wide utilities, district heating, specialist ventilation, laboratory gases, security systems, AV systems and advanced power distribution. Through early design involvement, BIM model control and extensive off-site prefabrication, FES developed streamlined and value-driven delivery strategies, manufacturing bespoke modules and plantrooms offsite to improve coordination and programme certainty.

The building includes a wide range of specialist environments, from temperature-controlled rooms and cleanrooms, to advanced research laboratories and specialist fume extraction systems. The Ground Floor is open to staff, students and the public, providing flexible spaces for events, conferences, networking and public engagement. Dedicated maker spaces, enterprise areas and post-graduate researcher zones further support innovation, skills development and new venture creation.

ARC also hosts one of the UK’s largest VR/AR labs and a significant number of bookable seminar and collaboration rooms, including flexible large-scale spaces for international speakers, conferences and academic partnership activity. This blend of high-spec labs, digital capability, immersive research environments and public-facing spaces positions the ARC as a central hub for future-focused research.

FES was proud to be appointed as the MEP delivery partner by Robertson Construction for the new East End Campus in Dundee, the city’s first purpose-built community campus. Designed to accommodate around 1,800 pupils from Braeview Academy and Craigie High School, the 19,500m² facility will serve as a hub for both education and community activity. The project’s vision was to create a truly modern, inclusive, and sustainable environment that sets a new benchmark for public-sector design in Scotland.

At the heart of the development is a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation. The campus is designed to achieve Passivhaus Certification, ensuring exceptional energy efficiency and low carbon performance in line with LEIP Phase 2 funding objectives. FES played a key role in realising these ambitions through the design and installation of high-performance mechanical and electrical systems. These included energy-efficient HVAC solutions, renewable technologies such as photovoltaic panels, and advanced controls that optimise building performance through data-led insights.

Throughout the project, FES delivered several major innovations to ensure quality, efficiency, and value. By adopting prefabrication and offsite construction, we provided three fully prefabricated plantrooms and a complete HV/LV substation and energy centre, reducing waste and site hours. Our use of digital engineering and BIM enabled full design coordination, precise installation, and proactive clash detection, while early engagement in value engineering generated over £340,000 in savings without compromising performance.

Beyond technical delivery, FES’s involvement brought significant social and community benefits. The project supported local employment by hiring apprentices, adult trainees, and Dundee-based subcontractors, contributing directly to regional skills development. With sustainability, quality assurance, and community investment embedded throughout, the East End Campus stands as a landmark project for Dundee.  It is a lasting example of how innovation and collaboration can create spaces that serve people and the planet for generations to come.

FES delivered the MEP and IT services for the National Robotarium, the UK’s leading facility for robotics and artificial intelligence. This purpose-built innovation hub provides advanced laboratories, offices, and flexible collaboration spaces for both academics and industry partners. The building is designed to accelerate knowledge and practical applications in Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Human and Robot Interaction, and Precision Laser Applications.

A standout feature of the facility is the central atrium, or forum, a 247m² multi-functional open space that encourages collaboration and interaction. The site also includes 12 pressurised laboratories, each with dedicated ventilation and environmental controls, alongside specialist gas monitoring systems to support safe and precise research.

We delivered a full suite of mechanical, electrical, and IT systems, including:

• High- and low-voltage distribution, general and emergency lighting, and solar PV
• Mechanical ventilation, air-conditioning, underfloor heating, and chilled water cooling
• Laboratory gas systems, fume extract, compressed air, and specialist laboratory ventilation
• Fire and security systems, lightning protection, BMS, and metering
• EV charging stations and data infrastructure with secured containment

We delivered the project on time and on budget, leading to direct engagement for subsequent fit outs of management office spaces, reflecting the university’s satisfaction with service quality.  Key challenges included restricted external plant space and fully exposed building services, which required careful 3-D coordination and high-level workmanship to maintain both functionality and aesthetic appeal.

Designed with energy efficiency in mind, the building’s BMS and digital metering provide real-time monitoring for effective energy management.

The new Maybole Community Campus opened in August 2023. It incorporates Carrick Academy, St Cuthbert’s Primary School, and the new Culzean Primary School and Early Years Centre (formed from the amalgamation of Gardenrose and Cairn Primary schools) creating an inspiring learning environment for up to 1,370 pupils.

The site, adjacent to Carrick Academy, has been transformed into a modern, four-storey campus where pupils will flourish for many years to come.

Maybole Community Campus encompasses Early Years, Primary and Secondary schools and also includes community use facilities such as changing pavilion, gym, fitness suite, sports halls, swimming pool and wet change area and police office.

The new school was developed for South Ayrshire Council by development partner hub South West Scotland and is based on the Scottish Schools for the Future model.

The project aims were to:

• Provide good comfort conditions to provide an excellent learning environment
• Develop sustainable lifecycle solutions and reduce energy consumption
• Drive cost-efficiency
• Focus on providing passive environmental design principles, where possible, to minimise carbon emissions, capital costs and running costs

In support of Scotland’s net zero ambitions, the new school boasts renewable energy solutions via a roof mounted Solar PV array and a wind turbine. Heating is also supplied via 25 no. Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) housed on the roof.

There are various forms of heating throughout the school:

•  Classroom heating is provided by radiant panels and classroom vent units
• Circulation areas and games hall heating are provided by radiant panels
• Atrium areas, the nursery classrooms and wet changing area for the swimming pool are provided by underfloor heating

FES Ltd was engaged by Morgan Sindall to deliver the following:

• Design was novated from TUV Sud to FES on contract award
• Design, supply, install, test and commission the mechanical and electrical services and IT infrastructure
• The externals package incorporated the connection, installation, testing and commissioning of the external water main and fire hydrant

Prefabrication

FES made good use of prefabrication for M&E services, utilising pipework modules and the construction of 2 no. plant rooms which were installed on the roof. This ensured that bulky construction works were done in a safe, secure environment and were delivered to site ready for install.  Having the plant rooms prefabricated literally saved months of construction time. The pipework modules for the ASHPs were also prefabricated which helped keep labour resource for installation to a minimum.

Client Feedback:

“The FES team worked collaboratively with Morgan Sindall and the wider supply chain throughout the duration of the Maybole CC project. FES demonstrated their strength in offsite prefabrication through the delivery of prefabricated plantrooms. The plantrooms provided the project with programme, environmental and health & safety benefits whilst being delivered to the highest quality standards. I look forward to continuing to build our working relationship with FES on future projects.”

Graeme Begley MCIOB, Building Services Lead – Scotland, Morgan Sindall Construction

“FES have been involved in over £200m worth of our education projects including the award-winning Marr College and Ayr Grammar Primary and Nursery projects. Over the past decade we have built strong relationships with the team who share our vision for delivering first-class, high quality and sustainable facilities.

Most recently FES were involved in the delivery of the £60 million Maybole Community Campus project where we welcomed their strong partnership working ethos and solid understanding on our testing and commissioning processes that ensure our projects are delivered to the highest standards. More widely FES support a range of apprenticeship activities that contribute to our regional approach to skills development.”

Michael Ross, Chief Executive, hub South West Scotland

The new build Canaan Lane Primary School provides much needed accommodation for primary school and early years nursery spaces in the Morningside catchment area of Edinburgh. The new school opened in August 2022 has capacity for 420 primary school pupils and has an early learning and childcare facility with capacity for 80 early years spaces.

The new 2-storey building includes:

8 dedicated classrooms, 1 general purpose classroom, flexible teaching/break-out spaces, dining hall and kitchen, PE hall, 2 nursery classrooms, library, staff facilities, comms room, laundry room and external playgrounds.

The new school was designed with sustainability at its core, and it achieved a BREEAM rating of “Very Good”.

Primary heating for the building is provided by 6 no. Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs), with a natural gas fired boiler providing additional top-up heat for domestic hot water generation. Heating throughout the school is provided by underfloor heating served from the main heating plant. A dedicated variable-temperature heating circuit within the heating plant room distributes low temperature hot water throughout the building to each underfloor heating manifold.

FES Ltd was engaged by Morgan Sindall to deliver the following:

• Supply, install, test and commission the mechanical and electrical services and IT infrastructure
• The infrastructure package incorporated the coordination, installation, testing and commissioning of water and gas services into the building
• FES had Contractor’s Design Portions (CDPs) for bracketry, pipework, air-conditioning, natural ventilation, fire, security and sprinklers, underfloor heating, lighting controls, induction loops, clocks, earthing, lightning protection, the Building Management System (BMS) and data.

Prefabrication

FES made good use of prefabrication for M&E services, utilising modules and the construction of 2 no. plant rooms. This ensured that bulky construction works were done in a safe, secure environment and were delivered to site ready for install. The modules reduced M&E programme installation durations in the corridors from several weeks to a few days.

Client Feedback:

“FES are to be commended on their M&E services delivery on this project. Their work rate was impressive, especially throughout the commissioning phase. The installations were of a very high quality throughout with few defects and any reported were dealt with promptly and to our satisfaction.”

Pete Almand, Senior Project Manager, City of Edinburgh Council

“The team at FES were a pleasure to work with. They pulled out all the stops to ensure that the client handover went ahead on the handover date and provided a high-quality delivery. I look forward to working with their team on future projects.”

Michael Braiden, Morgan Sindall, Senior Operations Manager

FES worked collaboratively with East Lothian Council and the Dunbar Grammar management team in developing the project brief through the design period to ensure that the final design met not only the increased accommodation requirements but also the advances in current educational criteria and changes in curricular activity.

During the design development period FES worked closely with the FES FM Lifecycle Management Team to develop specifications and product selection which aligned and benefitted the long term asset management plan of the facility and wider East Lothian estate.

Energy efficiency was also at the forefront of planning with a number sustainable solutions implemented such as maximum use of natural ventilation, LED lighting and an ETFE covering the Social Hub to maximise the benefit of natural daylight all with the aim of not only environmental consideration but also reduced utility running costs.

In addition to providing specific teaching spaces, general teaching spaces, administration and support facilities and improved sports facilities the brief also called for a multi-purpose Social Hub for school and community use.

The main extension adjoins directly to the existing school across two storeys which presented a number of challenges in terms of managing the interface between construction and interface with the live school environment and associated adjacencies.

The programme was planned to enable the majority of the main construction activities to take place during term time with sequencing planned to take account of key periods of the terms such as exam times where construction activity would be reduced from exam centred areas.

The University of Edinburgh hired FES as a Design & Build Main Contractor on a single stage design and build contract to deliver the first of six contracts of the Kings Building Infrastructure project in the south of Edinburgh.

The project helped modernise the existing electrical and mechanical infrastructure on-site, including 4 new substations and the installation of a boiler.

Included was installation of Low Voltage and High Voltage electrical wiring of campus. We took several phases as one of the best approaches to ensure the continuation of the live campus environment with minimum disruption for staff members and students.

The project was successfully delivered within a live campus environment.

This stage of infrastructure updates is the first in a planned 10 – 15 years of significant new developments planned for the campus.