| 95 Satisfaction from school projects School refurbishment work adds another element, breathing new life into classrooms and associated areas. ARCHITECTURE Whitmarsh Architects T T Sue Russell School projects are a continuing focus for registered architects, Matt and Lara Whitmarsh, who have worked together since establishing Whitmarsh Architects in 2014. Matt’s architecture journey dates back to 1996, when he was working for Frampton & Associates, a practice that specialised in the education sector, before joining Te Awamutu-based Gisler Architects in 1998, designing residential, educational and commercial projects. “It was a good time for Lara and I to set up our own studio, having had these years of experience behind us,” Matt says. Recent weeks have seen the practice working on a number of school refurbishments projects, along with new builds. One of the aspects of working in the educational space Matt says he enjoys is that each school has its own ideas as to what a classroom is and how it best functions. Designing teaching and learning areas to meet these aspirations within budgetary limits is challenging and interesting work, he says. School refurbishment work adds another element, breathing new life into classrooms and associated areas. Matt works across the state, integrated and private school sectors. “I do a bit of work for the Waikato Catholic Diocese, looking after seven of their schools in their network.” A new multi-purpose room at St Peter Chanel School in Te Rapa Hamilton has given the campus a new lease of life. Matt says the project’s inception goes back 10 years and has been much anticipated by the primary school. “This is a new 340-square-metre hall, replacing an early 1900s’ building no longer fit for purpose. The old building was dismantled and recycled, rather than just demolished, which, given its historical significance to the site was good to see.” Along with a hall area, the building houses a breakout room with full kitchen, entry foyer with visitor toilets, storage room, plus eight student toilet cubicles with external access. Outside, large veranda areas link the building to the existing administration area and staffroom. “The building is constructed entirely of timber, given the focus on sustainable construction. “Natural ventilation is supplied through electrically operated windows with heat pumps providing heating and cooling,” says Matt. At Cambridge Middle School, a new technology centre, completed in October last year, has been welcomed by the school community. Due to roll increases some years earlier, the existing hard materials spaces were converted into general classrooms, leaving the school without these specialist areas for many years. “This 285-square-metre building today is the home for teaching technology. Built by Iline Construction, it includes a hard materials area, a bio lab, a greenhouse, a multi-lab and a large flexible-use area,” says Matt. Again, an emphasis was placed on sustainable design and building methodologies. Upgrading of existing school buildings adds its own set of challenges and opportunities in design, such as was the case with a recently opened, revamped late-90s’ administration building at Te Kura Amorangi o Whakawātea. “This was a great project to be involved in,” says Matt. “Rearrangement of spaces created opportunities for areas to be better utilised, with a new meeting room formed, along with two offices and a larger staffroom and a learning support coordinator office.” Another lovely aspect to the build was redecorating the interior in a way that reflected the culture of the school, including tānika patterns in the flooring and the five manu (birds) of the school. “The building was completed in just six weeks by Mitchell Construction, ready for a representative of the Kingitanga to open it in July this year.” Matt says he is pleased to see that the market forces that have impacted negatively on the cost of buildings, particularly since Covid, have begun to settle down. Your reliable and trusted Main Contractor, proud to partner with Whitmarsh Architects on St Peter Chanel Catholic School Multi-Purpose Hall. We deliver exceptional quality projects across the Commercial, Industrial, Residential and Fitout sectors. iline.co.nz www.inzide.co.nz | 0800 800 656 We are proud to have worked with Whitmarsh Architects on Te Kura Amorangi o Whakawātea. Supplying sustainable flooring solutions to meet the needs of a diverse range of commercial environments. Specialists in educational and light commercial construction, plus shop/o ce t outs Operating throughout theWaikato 07 847 1204 Unit 1, 550 Te Rapa Road, Te Rapa, Hamilton o ce@mitchellconstruction.co.nz | www.mitchellconstruction.co.nz
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