| 121 T T Kim Newth Bringing a buzz to Takapuna Grammar The Georgea Tindall Performing Arts building includes two specialist music classrooms, a specialist dance room and a specialist drama room that can open up to create the bigger performance space, along with eight rehearsal/music practice rooms. COMMUNITY Takapuna Grammar School Two recent upgrade projects at Takapuna Grammar School are further boosting opportunities for student excellence, as well as deepening bonds with the wider community. Both projects honour the Tindall family, which has done so much to support the school over the years. Newly refurbished, the school’s performing arts building is named after Georgea Tindall, while the school’s pool, currently being upgraded, is named after her son, Sir Stephen Tindall. The Georgea Tindall Performing Arts building, which supports dance, drama and music education, had been on the school’s radar as a result of weathertightness issues. Fixing the leaks then opened up further possibilities for improvement. “We decided to upgrade the dance floor and extend it all the way through the drama room,” explains deputy principal Stephen Rowe. “It means we can now open it all up as a whole performance space with tiered seating, plus lighting rig and modern sound systems.” Today, the building includes two specialist music classrooms, a specialist dance room and a specialist drama room that can open up to create the bigger performance space, along with eight rehearsal/music practice rooms. Acoustic experts were also consulted to help improve the performance spaces. A colourful koru-like design in a central courtyard reflects the evolving aspirations of the arts in the school. A blessing ceremony for the newly refurbished building was held in April. Stephen says it has created a real buzz amongst the school’s performing arts students. “We recently had a combined performance with students from St Peter’s School Cambridge, and it worked so well having the tiered seating with modern lighting and sound that’s now so accessible and easy to control.” The school’s swimming facilities, previously unheated and only able to be used in terms one and four, are also nearing the end of a significant upgrade. It will bring year-round heating and floodlighting, state-of-the-art filtration and a deeper pool to support activities such as water polo. Not only will this give continuous access to water-based activities, but it will also enhance water safety for students and save hundreds of trips to other pool centres. Stephen says many generous donors have helped fund this exciting upgrade, which is now virtually ready to go. The school is just waiting on delivery of a final few key items from overseas to complete the project. “This isn’t just for our students. It’s a facility that will enable us to build relationships with community swimming groups and other schools. We anticipate that it will open from the beginning of 2026 for the full community and other schools coming in,” Stephen says. A special aspect of this project is a partnership with the Devonport Swim Club to provide swim squads and coaching both for school students and the community. “They have been without a pool for a while – they used to use the Navy pool, which closed in 2020, so they are very much looking forward to being a part of this too.” In the lead-up to the school’s centenary in 2027, Takapuna Grammar School is in fine shape. The school’s main block and hall were refurbished and upgraded just a few years ago too. As Stephen says: “We will be looking absolutely shipshape for our 100th anniversary celebrations.” “It means we can now open it all up as a whole performance space with tiered seating, plus lighting rig and modern sound systems.” P. 09 213 8814 E. admin@uprite.co.nz A professional and reliable service for all your scaffolding requirements Auckland wide Contact us Today
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