An exciting new classroom block expands the school size and incorporates innovative and flexible learning spaces
Preparing for the future
We were engaged by the Catholic Diocese of Auckland to provide full project management services for the expansion of St Mary’s School. We began with a master planning process that identified the need for a new 2-story, 10-classroom block to be constructed on a flat area next to a steep embankment.
The building was the first classroom block at the school to incorporate flexible learning spaces, so the design process required extensive stakeholder liaison with the school to ensure that the new building would meet their requirements. We also conducted a careful value engineering process during the design process to ensure that the budget could be met.
Degrees of complication
From there, we could move onto the challenges of construction. The difficult ground conditions and steep site topography provided additional complications which we mitigated through careful planning and rigorous technical oversight. With construction taking place within an operational school, we minimised disruption by using a staged approach and creating an access road to keep construction activities separate from live school facilities.
Points of interest
- The new block is located next to a steep embankment. An accessway was constructed from the upper level of the building to the embankment to provide connectivity to other school buildings.
- We undertook a staged programme of works to ensure that any impact on the operational school was minimised.
- Extensive landscape works, including stormwater swales, rain gardens and a synthetic sports field, were installed as part of the project.