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Whitecraig Primary School

Whitecraig primary School, Whitecraig, Musselburgh - Modern school multi-use learning space with rows of tables and chairs, timber finishes, tiered seating and circular pendant lighting
Client
East Lothian Council
Project location
Whitecraig, Musselburgh, United Kingdom
Project date
2026
Consultant
Harley Haddow
Architect
East Lothian Council
Electrical Contractor
OCS
Main Contractor
Morrison Construction
Whitecraig Primary School, Whitecraig, Musselburgh - Modern school multi-use area with flexible seating, bookshelves, timber finishes, tiered stairs and circular pendant lighting

Zumtobel and Thorn help shape a landmark new learning environment at Whitecraig Primary School

Zumtobel and Thorn have delivered a multi-brand lighting solution for the award-nominated Whitecraig Primary School. Combining architectural feature lighting with practical learning environments, the scheme supports the school's vision as a modern, sustainable and community-focused educational facility.

Lighting Solutions

Architecture, identity and inspiring spaces for learning

Whitecraig Primary School represents a new chapter for one of East Lothian's growing communities. Designed to replace the original 1959 building, the new school combines eight classrooms with an integrated Early Years centre. Developed to meet growing local demand for school places, the new learning environment draws inspiration from Whitecraig's mining heritage while strengthening the school's role within the wider community.

Whitecraig Primary School, Whitecraig, Musselburgh - Modern school multi-use learning space with timber finishes, rows of tables, bookshelves, informal seating and suspended circular lighting

A landmark building

The new landmark building combines bold industrial forms with warm, welcoming interiors. Charcoal brickwork, copper coloured detailing and exposed timber create a distinctive identity, while carefully planned spaces encourage curiosity, confidence and collaboration.
Working alongside East Lothian Council, Harley Haddow, Morrison Construction and OCS, Zumtobel and Thorn collaborated in the development of a comprehensive lighting strategy that complements the building's architectural vision while supporting the practical demands of a modern school.
Whitecraig Primary School, Whitecraig, Musselburgh - Modern school learning space with tables, blue stools and beanbags, timber finishes, glass partitions and circular pendant lighting

A brief shaped by architecture and learning

Whitecraig Primary School presented a diverse range of lighting challenges, from exposed apex-roof classrooms and specialist teaching areas to a dramatic double-height Arrival Hall and external community spaces.
Every area demanded its own solution, but the overall scheme still needed to feel cohesive while balancing aesthetics, performance, functionality and budget. The complementary Zumtobel and Thorn portfolios made this possible, allowing the project team to adopt a true multi-brand approach and specify the most appropriate luminaire for each application without compromising the wider architectural vision.
Alongside the visual impact of the scheme, operational efficiency and long-term performance remained key considerations. Modern LED technology helps reduce energy consumption while creating comfortable, effective learning environments for pupils, staff and the wider school community.
Whitecraig Primary School, Whitecraig, Musselburgh - Spacious modern multi-use school learning area with timber staircase, rows of tables and chairs, high ceilings and suspended circular lighting

Lighting the heart of the building

At the centre of the scheme sits the impressive double-height Dining, Resource & Multi-Use Space. This welcoming space connects the various learning areas and creates a natural focal point for the building.
Ian Denholm, Key Account Manager at Zumtobel Group, says: "One of the biggest challenges was respecting the architecture while delivering the practical requirements of a modern school. The exposed vaulted ceiling within the classrooms combined with the large open spaces demanded solutions that could provide excellent lighting performance without introducing visual clutter".
Whitecraig Primary School, Whitecraig, Musselburgh - Spacious school learning area with timber staircase, bookshelves, tables and suspended circular lighting beneath an exposed timber roof

A multi-use space

Ian Denholm continues "Within the Dining/Multi-Use Space, Zumtobel SLOTLIGHT Round and ONDARIA luminaires, suspended at varying heights, help soften the scale of the space. The result is an inviting environment that complements the architecture whilst abstractly representing the dappling of sunlight, broken by passing clouds."
“A further consideration was the emergency lighting. Traditionally in these scenarios we would opt for something like a twin-spot emergency fitting. However, this space called for more architectural discretion. Wall recessed RESCLITE luminaires mounted at circa 3m AFFL, provided a more discreet architectural solution, washing light across the open floor area without compromising safety or the overall design."
Whitecraig Primary School, Whitecraig, Musselburgh - Modern classroom with rows of tables and chairs, large windows, exposed timber roof beams and suspended linear lighting

Solving architectural challenges through light

The school's exposed vaulted ceiling classrooms presented another unique challenge. With no suspended ceilings available to conceal services, the lighting solution needed to minimise visible infrastructure while maintaining excellent lighting quality.
TECTON I and TECTON C provided an elegant solution. Combining lighting with clean visual infrastructure, the system delivers excellent performance while respecting the architecture TECTON I, also provides the discreet infractruture for wiring, emergency lighting and presence detection.
Whitecraig primary School, Whitecraig, Musselburgh - Whitecraig Primary School exterior at dusk, with dark brick façades, illuminated entrances, landscaped grounds and outdoor lighting

A carefully selected lighting solution

Throughout the wider school, Thorn and Zumtobel luminaires have been carefully selected to support their individual environments. IQ Wave, Chalice 3 and Katona contribute to comfortable teaching spaces, while robust solutions including Aquaforce Pro and ForceLED support back-of-house functions.
The lighting strategy continues beyond the classroom. Thor bollards, Plurio post tops and Piazza II luminaires provide safe, welcoming routes for pedestrians and cyclists, supporting the school's role as a community hub.
Whitecraig Primary School, Whitecraig, Musselburgh - Bright modern classroom with grouped tables and chairs, large windows, exposed timber roof beams and suspended linear lighting

A collaborative approach to educational design

The project benefited from close collaboration between the Project Design Team and Zumtobel Group's in-house Lighting Design Centre, with ZG assisting in detailed design discussions, Lighting Design Calculations and revisions to design, as well as a full and detailed TECTON CAD Layout for the Classrooms.
Whitecraig Primary School, Whitecraig, Musselburgh - Modern school learning space with timber walls, bookshelves, informal seating, tables and suspended circular lighting beneath an exposed timber roof

Lighting for the next generation

Whitecraig Primary School demonstrates how thoughtful lighting can support architecture, education and community. By bringing together the strengths of Thorn and Zumtobel, the project delivers efficient, flexible and visually cohesive spaces designed to inspire the next generation of learners and support a growing East Lothian community.
Whitecraig Primary School, Whitecraig, Musselburgh - Landscaped school grounds at dusk with illuminated pathways, lawns, trees and outdoor lighting

"Whitecraig Primary School was shaped through a highly collaborative design process, with every element contributing to the overall experience of the building. The lighting scheme complements the architectural vision, helping to create welcoming, interesting spaces that support learning, encourage curiosity and strengthen the school's connection with the wider community. We are proud of what we have achieved and were pleased to see this recognised in both the 2026 Scottish Design Awards, and the 2026 Architect’s Journal Architecture Awards."

Michael Cernicchiaro, Architect at East Lothian Council

"We approached Zumtobel Group at RIBA Stage 1 to help develop a lighting strategy that would align with the project's energy and sustainability targets while fulfilling both the technical and architectural brief. Having the team involved from such an early stage allowed these requirements to be embedded into the design from the outset.

The scheme combines lighting track within the double-height classrooms to minimise visible wiring infrastructure, architectural pendants to create a focal point within the central dining space, and functional lighting throughout the remainder of the building. This balanced approach will help ensure the lighting continues to perform effectively throughout the lifetime of the school.

Having a single supplier capable of delivering the external, emergency and general lighting, alongside the architectural and specialist elements, streamlined both the design and construction process."

Scott Bissett, Harley Haddow Consultants

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