| Project
type: Gymnasium
Client: Mt
Roskill Grammar
The land under Mt Roskill Grammar in Auckland
is full of peat, and flooding is a potential problem. So when
Ahead Buildings put in a new gymnasium in 2006, it came up with
an engineering solution that essentially floated the gym on top
of the peat. That meant not having to spend large amounts of money
on excavation or digging seismic poles to connect to the clay
base under the peat.
The gym was Ahead Buildings’ first major
college gymnasium and the largest of the school’s gyms.
The school’s project manager, Paul Styles, had been working
with Ahead on another job in Tauranga and invited the company
to submit a concept plan. The school was happy with the concept
and the budget; and following a tender process, Ahead was awarded
the contract.
Deputy principal David Lett says Ahead came
on board when they had already engaged an architect and project
manager, and the school was very appreciative of the way in which
Ahead was able to work in with them. “That flexibility worked
out extremely well,” he says.
The project was slow to start – through
no one’s fault but the school’s, Lett says, but once
it was up and running, things proceeded rapidly.
As well as a large, mono-slope gym, the new building
includes a foyer, office space for the head of department and
deputy head of department, four changing rooms and two classrooms.
The proximity of the two classrooms to the changing
rooms and playing fields has made them ideal for after-sports
presentations. Ahead installed an acoustic door between the two
rooms, so they can be opened up to create a larger space. That
double room is now used regularly for afternoon teas, school exchanges
and other school events.
Ahead was also asked to upgrade the school’s second gym.
This involved installing a sprung floor, removing some of the
windows, painting and recladding.
Next up was renovating two Nelson blocks and
seismic strengthening two others – which is now a requirement
for these types of classrooms, built in many New Zealand schools
in the 1960s.
The earthquake strengthening took between two
and three months and could have caused major disruptions to the
school. But, says Lett, the Ahead team worked at all hours of
the day and night to minimise disruption. “That sort of
thoughtfulness and ability to do that is absolutely wonderful,”
he says.
“We always felt that we got good advice.
When there was a point to be discussed, there was a robust and
thoughtful discussion, which is just what we needed. Lett says
the company was also very supportive during project meetings and
took on board any concerns or criticisms the school had about
the design and building process. And when it came to the actual
building and renovating, Ahead’s staff were pleasant and
easy to get on with, he says.
The school has a roll of 2300 and Lett says the
new gym has stood up well to the rigours of 1000-1500 students
making use of it each week.
- Mt Roskill Grammar’s new gymnasium is floated on top
of peat
- Two adjoining classrooms open up to create a larger space
for after-match events
- Ahead was also engaged to perform seismic strengthening on
some of the school’s older buildings
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