The building is constructed on shallow strip footings with structural steel frame and double-tee suspended floors. A Rooflogic “Warm Roof” system has been utilised, which provides both thermal and acoustic requirements, roof access hatch, attic ladder and a fall restraint system for roof maintenance inspections. The exterior cladding consists of precast concrete, Hardie’s Stria board and aluminium joinery.

This building provides a languages learning facility and comprises a teaching block of ten, cellular classrooms with necessary acoustics criteria.However, future proofing has been considered and the school has the ability to remove all partitions and walls on both levels, if necessary, turning all floor plates into open plan.

A selection of exterior aluminium windows have been double-glazed and, along with external sun louvres, minimise heat gain. A large walkway roof canopy and deck overhang helps mitigate the summer sun heat gain.

Internal walls are insulated and lined with plasterboard, stopped to a level 4 finish and painted. Selected walls are lined with Autex to enhance acoustic performance.

An internal Schindler lift services both floors with accompanying wheelchair routes and external door thresholds, making for easy access.

The external landscape consists of asphalt walkways intermixed with Astro Turf patios and seating benches for students to sit and relax.

Watts & Hughes Specific Involvement:

This was a Design & Build contract which comprised master planning, preliminary design, developed design, detailed design, consenting and construction of a new two-storey, 10-classroom teaching block with associated demolition and landscape works.

The Ministry of Education, in Coordination with Westlake Boys High School and their Board, as a joint financial stakeholder, worked closely with Watts & Hughes and our Design Team to ensure the best possible outcome was achieved. The school had limited funds and the pragmatic design development, rigorous analysis of changes and amendments and regular cost reviews allowed us to design and build the full complement of facilities, in accordance with MoE requirements, and complete these works within the client’s financial expectations. We believe this project provides a good example of a Design & Build Contract working as it should.