| 135 T T Virginia Wright New centre to foster students’ wellbeing The Hive is being developed as part of a changing school landscape; below St Paul’s headmaster Ben Skeen. St Paul’s Collegiate School COMMUNITY One of the largest-scale building projects in the history of St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton is currently underway, a new state-of-the-art wellbeing centre called The Hive. An independent Anglican secondary day and boarding school, St Paul’s Collegiate School opened as a boys-only school in 1959. Since 1985, the school has gradually extended its intake of girls, and by 2026 it will admit girls from year 9 upwards. In years 9 and 10, girls will be taught in separate classes from boys before joining co-educational classes in their senior years (11–13). The wider Collegiate community is working together to ensure the school is well prepared for the future. Headmaster Ben Skeen is helping to drive the building project forward to ensure it meets the ambitious one-year completion time frame. “The Hive is an iconic hub of connectivity that we have placed right in the heart of the school,” Ben says. “It’s going to be a cutting-edge facility that will serve as a health and wellness centre for students, as well as a one-stop-shop for parents and Collegians (alumni). Parents will be able to make themselves a coffee and have a comfortable workspace while waiting to collect their child.” Construction has already started on The Hive, as well as on the refurbishment of one of the school’s four boarding hostels. With an ‘aggressive’ build schedule, completion is expected by January 2026. Once finished, The Hive will become the third major hub of the school, alongside the chapel and Tuaapaapa, the outdoor dining space in the dining area. “We see a number of our campus facilities as key to keeping our people (past and present) well connected,” Ben explains. “For example, last night we hosted 450 people to welcome new parents to the school. It was a significant event, sharing food and laughter – it’s a significant investment choosing your child’s education, we thanked them for entrusting us with their child for the next three to five years” “The Hive is an iconic hub of connectivity that we have placed right in the heart of the school.” The Hive is being developed as part of a changing school landscape. The first historic intake of 71 year 9 girls next year is already oversubscribed, making it all the more essential to have the necessary campus facilities in place. The Hive is designed to be a busy, two-storey centre that will connect the entire school community. “It’s where student reception is located, and where parents and visitors will check in. The school shop will be here, along with a parents’ and Collegians’ (alumni) centre,” explains Ben. “Half of the Wellness Centre is dedicated to giving students a space of their own, which is especially valuable for boarders. There are two full-time school nurses and two counsellors on campus. The Sargood boarding house is receiving a full refurbishment, which is the final boarding house to be fitted out to help make it a home away from home for boarding students. There are three male boarding houses and one female – housing over 300 students in total. As a premium boarding school, St Paul’s is committed to ensuring students have everything they need. The Hive has been carefully designed with the school’s long-term future in mind, promising to be both durable and highly functional as it serves the needs of students, staff, and the wider community. Flow Consulting Provides the Full Hydraulic Design Package From Conceptual ideas and advice through to Construction Drawings, and Specifications. design@flowconsulting.co.nz 0800 FLOW CONSULT (0800 356 9266) www.flowconsulting.co.nz Lighting NewZealand for over 50 years Specialising in architectural lighting, for interior and exterior spaces. targetti.co.nz targetti@targetti.co.nz At Micon Engineering we offer an independent consultancy service in mechanical and electrical building services. It is a privilege to have provided the Mechanical and Electrical design services for the new Hive at St Paul’s Collegiate. We work on all building types including commercial, industrial, educational, and health. Typical project involvement may include: • Investigations, reports and preliminary project advice • Full design and preparation of contract documents • Contract observation through to completion For your next project, contact us on 07 - 8340052
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