128 | Catholic Diocese of Dunedin/ Archer Construction T T Virginia Wright A busy rolling schedule of upgrades The refurbished facilities are purpose-built for the modern requirements of New Zealand’s curriculum. COMMUNITY The Catholic Diocese of Dunedin is the southernmost of New Zealand’s six dioceses. Part of its job, and more specifically of Craig Paterson their Property Manager’s job, is to look after 27 primary and secondary schools spread across Otago and Southland. The state integrated schools range across all deciles as they fulfil their remit to cater for New Zealand’s Catholic communities from whichever walk of life. Craig’s in charge of a rolling schedule of upgrades through the schools with a number of projects running concurrently. “Basically my job is to roll out what we call renewals. If we have a building which is nearing its end of life, or not necessarily the building structure but its fit out, which may no longer be fit for purpose, then we go into a refurbishment project.” This year’s anchor project is in Invercargill at Verdon College. The coeducational school has a roll of 700 and was built in the late 60’s, early 1970’s. Its Technical Building is getting updated and future-proofed. It has four labs with ancillary rooms dating back to the original building and needing to be brought into the 21st century. Because the gutting and refurbishment of the whole block has to take place while the school is in session it’s being done in two stages. Two of the newly fitted labs are nearly complete and once they’re back in use the second phase involving the other two will begin. Archer Construction won the selective but robust tender process from the other trusted contenders for the work not least because, having worked on other Diocese projects, they had experience managing the complex site safety of building while the school went on around them. “We select those who participate in the tender process which ensures we get a good price but also ensures the quality of both the build and the construction management. The contractor needs to be flexible with how they deliver materials and maneuver them on site because it has to be secure but they still have to bring the trades in and all this is happening while the college is in session,” explains Craig. The refurbished facilities are purpose-built for the modern requirements of New Zealand’s laboratory-based curriculum. Free from the asbestos-based products that were part of the original build, the long-term health and safety of staff and pupils is paramount in the $1.7 million refurbishment. All the windows are now double glazed and the electrically powered heat pumps not only keeps the classrooms warm in winter but for the first time enables air-conditioning to keep them cool in summer too. “It’s about delivering the right environment for learning,” says Craig. “We’ve also future-proofed building maintenance by making it safe for example to work on the roof. “We’ve installed a fixed ladder access system, locked so the kids can’t climb up it, but which enables maintenance people to access the roof safely and hook into static lines when doing high-level maintenance work. They’re proud of having kept their carbon footprint front of mind when choosing to make use of as much of the existing structure as they could. “There are times when you have to pull something down but if you don’t have to you don’t, and what we’ve got there is an example of pretty good architecture in the first place,” says Craig. It’s a testament to the original design that they’re able to make such good use of it while still delivering the improved facility intended to meet the needs of the school and its pupils for the next 40-plus years. SOUTHLAND 03 215 9068 1 Kinloch Street, Invercargill sam@nulooksouthland.co.nz www.nulook.co.nz Talk to us about the windows and doors that are right for your home. McCoy and Wixon Architects Ltd Dunedin Office: 242 Stuart Street, Dunedin 9058 Central Otago Office: Level One, 24 Dungarvon Street, Wanaka Ph: 03 477 2030 Email: architects@mccoywixon.co.nz www.mccoywixon.co.nz
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