| 103 Southwell School - SJR Builders School invests in exciting new facilities Kim Newth The proposed new sports pavilion at Southwell School in Hamilton. Building on its 111-year history of educational excellence, Hamilton’s Southwell School is in an exciting development phase to further enhance the school’s world class campus. Construction of a new Junior School is well underway and is due to open at the start of the 2023 school year. It has been purposefully designed for educating five- and six-year-olds, with spaces for nurturing relationships, developing talents and allowing for expression, discovery and learning innovation. In 2018, Southwell School opened a new state-of-the-art block for their Year 2-4 students. Called the Murray & Ann Day Building, this beautifully designed block with purposeful learning spaces set a new benchmark for school facility design. The new Junior School, modelled after this block, is set to be equally inspiring. With an external brick finish, the design also respects the school’s gracious 1920s architecture. “We think it will give our youngest children – and our staff - the best possible facilities and environment and brings our Junior School in line with our other classroom facilities,” says Headmaster Jason Speedy. “I’ve taught in independent education over three decades and, speaking from experience, this is going to be the best Year 1 teaching and learning facility in the country. “From glazing to use of natural light, it is an excellent design layout that will reinforce a strong sense of place and belonging, and our positive, relational culture of personalised learning. Our staff will also thrive in this environment.” Hamilton’s SJR Builders has been working on site to construct the new Junior School since December 2021. “ They have been exceptional. We know Steve Ross [SJR Builders’ Company Director] well as he’s had many years of experience here as a parent of Southwell students. He’s got Southwell in his blood. He’s solutions focussed and has a good, positive team.” Every class in the new Junior School will have its own signature style and will include a large teaching zone, adjacent break-out space for small group/individual learning, and a locker bay. There will be three Year 1 classes in total, each with only 12 students. A fourth class will be reserved for Year 0 students starting in the second half of each year. As well, the building layout includes an internal gathering area for assemblies and larger group meetings. The new Junior School will open onto a football field sized outdoor zone. Year 1 places for 2023 were filled a year in advance with only 36 places available. “Along with this project, we have a new sports pavilion and a new boarding house being built, all within 12 months of each other. This is not about increasing our roll. “It’s about enhancement and providing the best possible facilities for our roll of approximately 650 students. SJR Builders are building the sports pavilion and Jennian Homes, Hamilton and Waikato, our boarding house.” The new sports pavilion will be named the Alumni Sports Pavilion, acknowledging the school’s strong and supportive alumni members. Facing north towards Southwell’s cricket, football and rugby fields, the pavilion will offer a large internal space complemented with kitchen facilities. Construction is commencing in August 2022, with the pavilion due to be completed in early 2023. Its main purpose will be to provide a space for bringing people together for sports-related occasions. “It will be used by our own sports teams as well as for hosting visiting teams and clubs.” Opening at the start of Term 3 in 2023, the new boarding house (for Years 5-8) will replace an older building being repurposed as a staffroom, meeting room and archives centre. Designed to provide a large, personalised family-style environment, the new boarding house will accommodate 32 boys and 32 girls and will include new living areas and spaces for hobbies and recreation, study as well as offices. COMMUNITY gfowke@ecoinsulation.co.nz 022 183 2767 www.ecoinsulation.co.nz waikato World-class Insulation solutions for NZ homes & buildings. Family Homes • Rentals Commercial • New Builds Contact Gary Fowke 07 847 6020 ROOFS www.sjrbuilders.co.nz | (07) 847 9993 | office@sjrbuilders.co.nz Architecturally Designed Homes • Renovations • Light Commercial & Shop Fit-Outs
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