44 | School upgrade a major enterprise The multi-million-dollar development, designed by Oakley Gray Architects and being undertaken by Naylor Love, includes the school’s oldest sections, Otago Girls High: Naylor Love T T Karen Phelps “A collaborative approach has ensured minimal disruption to students and staff. We have fortnightly meetings with the property manager, capital works, the builders and the architects.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT An important piece of Dunedin’s educational heritage is currently undergoing an upgrade as Otago Girls’ High School progresses with an extensive refurbishment project that will modernise facilities and make the school accessible to all, while preserving its historic character. “This project is extensive and complex, involving many works, and has been a long time in the planning. The project is delivering learning support modifications to address accessibility, compliance upgrades and multiple work packages from the school’s Ten Year Property Plan,” says school principal Bridget Davidson. The multi-million-dollar development, designed by Oakley Gray Architects and being undertaken by Naylor Love, includes the school’s oldest sections, making the project particularly challenging, says Bridget. The overall project was triggered by learning support modifications to ensure the school was accessible to all students. The first stage, completed in the July school holidays, was a collapsible stage lift in the hall. Bridget says it has already been well-used by students. Alongside that project is a full, three-storey lift through the Siedeberg Building, which is the school science block. The foundations have already been completed. Twelve new toilets have also been built in this block. An external ramp has also been modified. “The builders completed this quickly and relocated a temporary ramp for use as the build was underway to ensure little disruption to students and teachers,” says Bridget. One significant part of the project has been making replicas of some historic oak doors where the ramp is located. “Before, these were heavy and the teacher aides really struggled to open the doors, hold them open and push wheelchairs through. Now the doors just automatically open with a button.” There will also be half lifts installed and the universal bathroom extended, which will take place over the Christmas holiday period. At the heart of the development lies the Dalrymple Building, which opened in 1911 and is classified as a Category 1 Historic Building. This designation recognises it as one of the oldest girls’ state secondary school buildings in the Southern hemisphere. The project includes a music block modification and replacing the entire historic Marseille tiled roof. The project has also included upgrading the school to the latest fire compliance regulations. A sprinkler system will be installed in the hall ceiling, and firewalls and new fire exits will be built. Three science labs are being fully modernised with prep and breakout rooms and new fume cupboards. A new 12-metre-high climbing wall will replace the one that has seen 25 year’s use, and will be relocated on the north side of the gymnasium. “These teaching and learning environments will be really enhanced, which will be significant as we have a lot of science students,” says Bridget. “We also have a really strong climbing club so students are particularly excited about the new wall.” Teachers haven’t been forgotten, and are already enjoying a newly modified staffroom and workrooms. “We’re all very excited, it’s beautiful,” says Bridget. “We’ve got this amazing extension on our staff room with a whole breakfast bar, bench and oven. The workrooms have been modernised and it’s a much more open space – a lot lighter, brighter and more collaborative.” The administration areas of the Dalrymple Building are undergoing internal reconfiguration, including the principal’s office, senior leadership and counsellors’ offices, accountant and EA offices, meeting room and IT office including a new sick bay. The facilities have been buffered by four new work spaces and an additional office. Bridget says the complexity of working on an operational school campus has required careful consideration of timing and staging. “A collaborative approach has ensured minimal disruption to students and staff. We have fortnightly meetings with the property manager, capital works, the builders and the architects.” Bridget credits project manager Stefan Box, Naylor Love. and the wider team with ensuring the project is running smoothly. She says there will be around 350 workers in total on-site during the year-long project. Contractors were racing to meet a deadline of November 4, the start of NCEA exams, when noisy works would cease until commencing again in December. We are pleased to provide structural engineering services for Otago Girls High SERVICES BAR F I TOUT S | SHOP FITOUTS KITCHENS AND WARDROBES 03 42 0 40 42 181 Maces Road, Bromely, Christchurch info@gilljoinery.co.nz | www.gilljoinery.co.nz Proudly Supporting Otago Girls High contact@activeelectrodunedin.co.nz 36 Prince Albert Road, St Kilda, Dunedin 9012 03 456 4087 Canterbury - Dunedin - Queenstown - Nelson Gisborne - Hawkes Bay •Civil Works • Sub-divisions • Transport • Demolition • Recycling • Siteworks www.hallbros.co.nz (03) 477 1141
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