98 | Flaxmere College COMMUNITY T T Richard Loader College redevelopment ticks all boxes Flaxmere College Food Technology Suite. Hawke’s Bay’s Flaxmere College has just completed a major redeveloped journey that commenced in 2016, when the National Government’s Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, approved project funding. School Principal Jim Hay-Mackenzie says the redevelopment has provided a modern learning environment that allows for a genuine integrated cross-curricular approach to teaching. “It enables us to realise some of the ideas we have had for a while. The new open learning spaces allow staff to share and support each other with their practice. But because we have new modern facilities it has uplifted everyone — the students, staff and the Flaxmere Community. People drive past the school now and say, wow.” Flaxmere is a western suburb of Hastings. The school opened as an Intermediate School in 1978 and became a High School in 1992, combining buildings from the Intermediate era with purpose-built blocks for the High School. “The blocks weren’t well designed or well built, and many weren’t weather-tight,” says Jim. “Also, the single cell classroom blocks weren’t aligned with our integrated and responsive teaching curriculum. “They didn’t allow for different subject areas to work together. My predecessor Louise Anaru really wanted high-quality and modern environments to meet the needs of our community. Deputy Principal Shelly Arnold had also been fighting for a new school over a couple of decades.” Construction work didn’t start until early 2020, and during the intervening period the project focused on design with an inclusive consultation process embracing the ideas of school faculty, students, whānau and local iwi. “Our total school roll is 268, including a teen-parent unit that is close to the school campus. It was built in 2014, and was not part of the project. The role is predominantly Māori with a significant number of Pacific learners as well. So, we have integrated that culture into our landscape and learning environment.” The redevelopment project was essentially a design and build contract, removing a lot of the older buildings, refurbishment of three significant buildings and construction of a purpose-built teaching block. Key players in the project included project managers Building Intelligence Group, the Ministry of Education, Stead Construction as lead contractor, and Tim Horne the main architect from Hamilton practice, MOAA Architects. Award-winning landscape design and construction Company Espaso Verde was also engaged to undertake all landscaping work. “An element of the construction was a 120-metre-long teaching block, that was divided into various teaching spaces, including technology, science, and general teaching. That is our primary teaching block. “Our new administration block is located closer to the road and more welcoming • Security Alarms – Domestic & Commercial • CCTV Camera Surveillance • Access Control • 24/7 AlarmMonitoring • Servicing and Installation • Control 4 – Home Automation Eastek are proud to support Flaxmere College with their recent project 06 871 5444 www.eastek.co.nz 500 Karamu Rd North, Hastings Domestic • Commercial • Industrial Covering the Hawkes’ Bay Area 201 Jervois Street, HASTINGS | P: (06) 878 9332 E: hastings@laserelectrical.co.nz 59 BROADLANDS RD, for our students and whanau. In respect to refurbishment, the existing hall was given a significant makeover and also includes teaching spaces for hospitality and music.” Significant refurbishment of the gymnasium has provided more efficient use of space and the inclusion of breakout rooms, with the same footprint. The existing ten-year-old administration unit has been repurposed as a Kowhai Special Education Unit. The remainder of the old blocks have been demolished. “Apart from minor finishing, going through compliance, and waiting for the new grass to grow from the landscaping, the project has now been completed. Covid was probably the biggest challenge, with the first lockdown in April that same year, and then subsequent lockdowns also impacting on work. “There were some supply chain issues but Stead Construction were very canny, had great suppliers and knew where to get materials. In the end the project was delayed by quite a few months, but from where we were, we now beautiful buildings and learning spaces, and we all feel quite blessed.”
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