Back to school

C onstructing a new school with six buildings and associated landscaping presents enough challenges until you add the need to complete building works while pupils and staff are starting the school year.

The construction programme for the Albany Junior High School was very tight. Delayed access to the building platform and unusually wet weather meant the school was open and operating while construction was in progress.

Multiplex Constructions project manager Paul Feltham says these prospects were initially daunting. However, an exemplary working partnership developed quickly between the construction and education teams, and allowed all issues to be dealt with quickly and openly, he says.

Parties involved in the project were the architect Warren & Mahoney, project manager Beca, services engineer Connell Mott MacDonald, structural engineer Structure Design, and quantity surveyor WT Partnership.

"Team work and open communication between Multiplex management, consultants and its subcontractors were the key factors to the success of the project," says Feltham.

"We liaised with the school principal to ensure minimal disruption to children and teachers while handing various buildings over, as each one was completed."

Classrooms are contained within three Whanau buildings, each named after a native bird. These standard classrooms have operable walls that can be opened up to create larger shared facilities.

Common areas shared by all students include a large sports field, tennis courts, library, performing arts centre and a large gymnasium with a sprung floor.

Environmentally friendly features were important to the Education Department's brief and included harvesting storm water for irrigating sports field.

For more details contact Multiplex Constructions (NZ) Ltd, 48 Courthouse Lane, Auckland, phone (09) 377 9483, fax (09) 377 9471. Website: www.multiplex.biz.

Story by: Trendsideas