110 | Upgrade on track Stewart Construction’s Sam Brouwer checks on progress with the grandstand at Otago Boys’ High School. Otago Boys’ High School - Stewart Construction T T Karen Phelps COMMUNITY A five-year upgrade plan is gaining momentum at Otago Boys’ High School involving various projects aimed at enhancing the school’s infrastructure and facilities, ensuring a safe and modern learning environment for students. Stewart Construction is undertaking the projects and one of the company directors, Sam Brouwer, says that a primary area of focus is the replacement of the existing grandstand roofing membrane and soffits. “Asbestos removal was a significant challenge that we faced during this part of the project. It had to be meticulously removed during the April school holidays and them additional asbestos was also discovered in the roof space above the soffit linings. This caused a delay to the initial project timeline as we had to wait for the July holidays to address it,” he says. The unique nature of the grandstand’s design meant that scaffolding had to be erected inside the grandstand, which proved to be complex due to the terraced seating and the multiple sloping soffits. Despite hurdles the project is nearing completion. Another critical project involves the replacement of the school pool’s roof and cladding. The tricky shape of the pool’s roof and the portal structure saw mobile scaffolding erected underneath the complex roofline to facilitate access. “The old roof has been removed, and structural steelwork has been painted. We’re currently installing timber purloins, and we anticipate completion by early December.” Stewart Construction has already completed refurbishment projects at Otago Boys’ High School, including upgrading changing rooms adjacent to the school pool and a toilet block. These improvements have modernised these essential facilities, enhancing the overall experience for students and staff, says Sam. Looking ahead Stewart Construction is set to begin work on the refurbishment of three science labs, involving internal upgrades and new services. This project is scheduled for completion early next year. Managing construction projects within an active school environment requires a delicate balance and Stewart Construction has extensive experience working on Ministry of Education projects. “We’ve done a lot of school projects, it’s our biggest niche of work,” says Sam. “The best approach is always to have open communication with the school and address any concerns, minimising disruption.” Other challenges on school projects include site security, managing vehicle movements and controlling noise and dust to ensure high levels of health and safety and ensure the school’s day-to-day activities can continue seamlessly. Stewart Construction has implemented measures such as controlled vacuums for dust and scheduling noisy work outside of school hours to mitigate these issues. “We’re easy to deal with, collaborative and proactively solve issues. We want a great outcome for our clients,” says Sam citing some of the key differences in working with Stewart Construction. The company’s track record in school projects has recently included the successful demolition and refurbishment of the library building at Kaikorai Valley College and major structural and interior refurbishments at Fairfield School. Currently Stewart Construction is working on a substantial project at Trinity Catholic College, involving multi-level interior refurbishment and the installation of an external lift shaft. Based in Dunedin, Stewart Construction has been owned and locally operated for 58 years, bringing with it an immense amount of building experience to draw on, attention to detail and ability to deliver quality results every time, says Sam. The company also undertakes residential projects and maintenance and heritage restoration. It has a joinery division giving it the ability to carry out all aspects of joinery work for its projects including timber exteriors, fittings, internal doors and frames, commercial joinery, reception counters, exterior timber windows and doors, office furniture and shop fittings. “We strive to exceed the needs of our customers, within their budget and timeframe, working as a team on a project to deliver exceptional results every time.” www.impactotago.co.nz | 10B Strathallan St, Dunedin SPECIALISTS IN ROOFING, PLUMBING & GAS FITTING Drainlayers 03 455 5871
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=