Department for Education, Glenelg Primary School

Effectively managing design intent  

After novation of the design consultant into Sarah’s team, our personnel undertook a comprehensive constructability review, working worked closely with the architect and the school to understand and plan for the design intent.

Sarah’s reputation as a smart, solutions focussed builder was paramount to the success of the project and maintained the distinctive roof profiles and façade heights.

Modular innovation

Together, the three new modular buildings include 800m² of floor space with extensive roof and façade heights.

Generally, legislation limits modular buildings on suburban roads to a total height of 3.6 metres before roads must be closed to move overhead powerlines; an exercise that significantly increases risk, time and costs.

Using the experience personnel within its modular design and manufacturing division, Sarah’s team designed the three buildings in 44 bespoke components including a lift-off modular roof system, all able to be transported safely under the local guidelines, over a period of only 10 days during the school holidays.

Managing unknown elements

Glenelg Primary School has been on its current site since 1969, and many of the underground services and elements, including the footings of previously demolished buildings, were undocumented.

Sarah’s team were required to be flexible and proactive when encountering unknown elements, in many cases having to change footing and service trenching locations, working collaboratively with structural engineering consultants.

To avoid impacting the overall construction program, Sarah’s team reprogrammed activities to other stages and work fronts.

Delivering a major upgrade with a fully operational school

Sarah’s construction zone was located within a fully operational school environment, including Out of School Hours Care facilities throughout the school holidays.
To manage construction impacts on the school’s 600+ staff and students, Sarah’s team programmed the works in six stages, containing and moving work fronts to limit live construction zones. Sarah’s team worked closely with the school’s staff to develop safe, alternative access routes and provide wayfinding materials.
Noisy and vibration generating works were limited to outside of school areas and during weekends, and all deconstruction works occurred in school holidays.

Recycling and Reusing

The project’s scope included the safe deconstruction of outdated relocatable buildings and landscaping and paving upgrades.

All older materials were sorted and recycling where possible, and importantly, engraved pavers from previous school fundraisers were retained and integrated into the new paving works, preserving important pieces of the school’s history.

We don’t see problems; We see solutions

Sarah Constructions has a reputation for delivering complex commercial and social infrastructure.
Our personnel thrive when managing projects that demand a high degree of strategic planning skills, open communication, and proactive problem solving.

The technical and operational complexity of this project demanded expertise from across Sarah’s business, including the modular design and manufacturing division, Sarah’s in-house Building Information Modelling or BIM team, Safety Leadership Team, and logistics experts.
The successful completion of this high-value project was due to Sarah’s collaborative approach to working with clients and consultants towards a shared vision.