| 111 South Otago High School T T Karen Phelps School future proofing South Otago High School has invested in an all-weather playing surface on half of its outdoor courts making them accessible for hockey, tennis, netball and basketball. COMMUNITY A number of projects completed at South Otago High School over recent years are setting the school up for the future, says Principal Mike Wright. The first large project, completed in 2018, was a refurbishment and renovation of the music and drama suite. “The original building was beyond its use-by date so that was removed,” explains Mike. “We then used an open plan classroom on the site that had no specialist facilities for the new suite.” That building was gutted and a new floor installed ideal for dance and drama. The suite also had suitable power for lighting and sound systems, black out curtains etc. to transform it into a place to hold performances. The suite also includes a number of rehearsal rooms for students to practice and for teachers to give lessons. Mike says the space was designed to provide flexibility. “It’s a popular area; students enjoy using it. For a rural school we are very privileged to have the suite,” says Mike. The Pomahaka block, named after the local Pomahaka River, was the next project. A long linear block with seven classrooms and a student common room, a corridor had been re-roofed but there were issues with water tightness. “The Ministry of Education wanted to upgrade the classrooms but the funding wasn’t sufficient to do the whole block,” says Mike. “After the Ministry visited they decided to provide funding to refurbish the whole block.” Now the block has four maths teaching spaces, two science labs, three breakout spaces, a year 13 common room and science preparation room. “Because the building was quite old you find things you hadn’t anticipated so that was a challenge. For example there was some asbestos in the building, which was cleared out, and also some of the wiring and cabling for the network needed to be updated as well.” The project took place while the school was operational and through pandemic lockdowns. It was completed in 2021. “We were fortunate to have a really good building company, Cook Brothers, that worked through things with us and were really great with communication.” Post lockdowns the Ministry of Education provided one-off funding to all schools. This led to the school being able to invest in an all-weather playing surface on half of its outdoor courts making them accessible for hockey, tennis, netball and basketball. “The previous surface cracked, uneven and at the end of its life,” explains Mike. “Now it’s a great facility for the school and community. We quite often find at the weekend people are using the area, which is really positive.” Another significant property project, which was completed this year was the change from a coal powered heating system to a woodchip boiler. “The new system has been really impressive both in terms of efficiency and flexibility which has been a great improvement for the school,” says Mike. The final project, currently underway, is an accessibility project to help improve access to parts of the school for students with mobility issues. The first stage has just been completed and saw a ramp installed for students to access the all-weather playing surface. “We were fortunate to have a really good building company, Cook Brothers, that worked through things with us...” We are pleased to provide structural engineering services for South Otago High School TC1/TC2/TC3 Slab Design Jones and Cooper Builders are in the process of completing its largest education contract yet at South Otago High School. The project was focused on learning support modi ications, spanning four stages that included crucial accessibility improvements. The transformation process commenced with the removal of an out-dated ramp leading to the tennis courts. In its place, a new compliant ramp was installed, complete with handrails and retaining walls. Addressing the need for improved access between two levels of the school, the construction teamwill replace existing with compliant steps and ramp. The third stage will involve upgrading doorways in the administrative block, with changes to hardware, new level entries, and the installation of ire escape doors. The inal stage of the transformation will include the construction and installation of a lift in two-story building Block D. Neil Bone, the project manager and a director of Jones and Cooper Builders, says that a collaborative attitude, working closely with the school and ensuring high levels of health and safety, has been a priority, especially considering the presence of students throughout the construction process. Despite the challenges associated with working on a school of this age, Jones and Cooper successfully navigated the unknown factors, demonstrating its expertise Jones and Cooper Builders: Excellence in Construction inmanaging complex projects. The 12-month project is due for completionmid 2024. Jones and Cooper has a history of undertaking school projects all over the lower South Island including works at Blue Mountain College in Tapanui, St Thomas Primary School inWinton, and St Patrick's Catholic Primary School in Nightcaps. Founded in 1948 and led by owners Peter and Lee Anne Cooper and Neil Bone, Jones & Cooper Builders have built a reputation for excellence in residential, commercial, and rural farmbuilding construction. Based in Gore, the company operates with a skilled teamof around 20 sta and collaborates with trusted subcontractors. It can also supply and build Skyline Buildings from start to inish. Sister company Abell Aluminium specialises inmanufacturing Nulook aluminiumwindows o ering clients a complete solution. Neil says the company has a willingness to tackle projects of any size, highlighting its lexibility and commitment to inding practical solutions for clients. As members of the RegisteredMaster Builders Association, clients can rest assured that their projects are built to the highest quality standards, backed by aMaster Build 7 Year Guarantee. Over the years the company has receivedmanyMaster Builder Awards in both the residential and commercial categories further demonstrating its commitment to true excellence in construction. admin@jonescooperbuilders.co.nz 03 208 4794 www.jonescooperbuilders.co.nz Jones & Cooper (JC Builders 2020 Ltd) is pleased to be involved in the current Learning Modifications at South Otago High School. With a 75 year history and numerous high profile buildings in its extensive portfolio, the Gore building firm led by Peter Cooper (son of founding Managing Director Fred Cooper) & Neil Bone, the company has built a reputation in both residential and commercial projects for high quality work. Including numerous projects for Ministry of Education along with work on Back Country/Alpine huts and the groundbreaking Headwaters at Camp Glenorchy.
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