134 | College redevelopment exceeds expectations Stage one of the development, completed in mid-2019, delivered the three-storey teaching block, a new gymnasium, a two-storey Māori teaching block, the Whare Tapere Māori student performing space and a new cafeteria. Western Springs College T T Karen Phelps “It is a spectacular learning environment and offers real opportunities for collaborative learning between students and teachers.” COMMUNITY Western Springs College Ngā Puna O Waiōrea’s ambitious redevelopment project is delivering exceptional educational outcomes for its growing student population. “The building project has been incredibly successful in relation to teaching and learning outcomes. The role now exceeds what was planned for and people are clearly voting with their feet,” says principal Ivan Davis. “It is a spectacular learning environment and offers real opportunities for collaborative learning between students and teachers. “This is how people grow educationally, because as social beings we thrive on contact with others and grow our knowledge accordingly. From an educational perspective it has exceeded our wildest dreams.” Currently at 1850 students, the school has implemented a four-stage development plan to accommodate up to 3300 students over the next 10-15 years. Stage one of the development, completed in mid-2019, delivered the three-storey teaching block, a new gymnasium, a two-storey Māori teaching block, the Whare Tapere Māori student performing space and a new cafeteria. Future stages will progressively extend the three-storey teaching block to accommodate the growing student population. The cornerstone of the stage one development by Jasmax is the three-storey teaching building, designed to accommodate up to 1400 students simultaneously engaged in 40 different classes. It features an open atrium at its centre, extending from ground level to the third floor, creating a sense of space and connectivity. The building’s innovative design further emphasises collaboration and flexibility with minimal internal walls and a focus on glass and movable partitions. Careful acoustic management by Marshall Day Acoustics ensures that, despite the open-plan nature of the space, multiple learning activities can easily take place, says Ivan. “Each floor is designed as a ‘learning hub’ or ‘community’, featuring teaching spaces, meeting pods, presentation rooms, and teacher workrooms. “This approach embraces modern educational practices, shifting from traditional classroom setups to encourage a more collaborative and interactive learning environment,” he explains. Ivan says the project has successfully integrated the needs of both the English-medium college and its Māori immersion unit, Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, creating a cohesive educational environment that celebrates cultural diversity and modern learning practices. The project, which represents the largest single investment in a school in New Zealand, has overcome significant technical challenges. Built on a former landfill site that closed around 1960, the school had long suffered from subsidence issues. The redevelopment required the removal of 34,000 cubic metres of landfill material and extensive foundation work to ensure structural stability. Despite these challenges, the project has maintained a strong focus on sustainability. The design incorporates rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient systems, including heat-recovery ventilation, and the use of sustainable New Zealand pine for interior finishes. The three-storey approach has also helped preserve valuable green space on the 10-hectare site. As Western Springs College Ngā Puna O Waiōrea continues to grow, Ivan says it stands as a testament to the power of architectural design in enhancing educational outcomes. “The school has indeed become, as the New Zealand Institute of Architects noted when the project won a 2020 LENZ award for excellence in education design, ‘a great human ark setting sail into the future of education’.”
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