St Paul's College, St Paul’s College Stage 2 – Junior School

Unique cladding materials

The extensive building façade is brought alive by Equitone – an innovative fibre cement cladding system.

As well its aesthetic properties, Equitone panels allow air to circulate behind the cladding, keeping moisture, mould, heat, and frost away from the building.

While Sarah’s team had worked with small quantities of this system previously, this application marked one of the most extensive uses of Equitone in South Australia.

The design of the building meant that very few of the panels were alike and installation required bespoke tolerances between each panel and the building’s immovable structural steel skeleton.

Understanding that there was no room for error, the team leveraged the knowledge of Sarah’s in-house Building Information Modelling (BIM) experts, working collaboratively with the consultant team to maintain the architectural vision without compromise to quality or functionality.

Bespoke footing profiles

The unique X-shaped building features four bespoke slab designs, all with different edge profiles requiring deep excavations and large volumes of concrete.

These intricacies and scale of excavation and concrete pours required Sarah’s team to carefully stage construction to manage the available resources and materials.

By reprogramming other early works, Sarah’s team managed the staged completion of the slabs without impacting on the total delivery program.

Managing procurement delays for specialised items

The main feature of the building’s central core is a striking pair of skylights illuminating the staircase and lift area.

Each of the two bespoke 3.5m² skylights were manufactured by a specialised supplier who was unable to provide them within the timeframe required to complete the roof structure.

To avoid damage to the building’s internal components, Sarah’s team reprogrammed works in the central core, and waterproofed the roof with alternative materials.

Working with an operational school environment

Throughout construction, the college remained fully operational and home to 900 students and staff.

To limit construction impacts on the college community, material deliveries were planned outside of drop-off and pick-up times, works requiring service disruption were programmed during school holidays, and Sarah’s team communicated directly with the college’s staff regarding events including exams.

All works were securely fenced off from the main college, and the team developed signage and provided guidance while the community temporarily used alternative access routes.  

Reducing impacts to a broad range of stakeholders

The project was immediately adjacent residential homes and deliveries were directed along suburban streets.

Sarah’s team maintained an open line of communication with residents and ensured that streets were regularly cleaned during wet weather.

The team also coordinated the activities of other contractors on site, including construction of the new basketball court and playground areas, to avoid disruption to the integrated Stage 2 timeline and the college’s day-to-day activities.

Managing site safety 

The scale of the footing excavations required Sarah’s team to carefully plan how people and plant moved around the site.

All construction personnel including subcontractors were required to attend daily safety briefings and plant movements and deliveries were documented and continually monitored for compliance.

Value management specialists

Sarah’s reputation for value management was highlighted on this project, with more than $450,000 in savings returned to the client for additional scope.

By recommending the use of flush mounted exposed rivets instead of concealed fixings for the Equitone panels, Sarah’s team reduced the installation costs by $320,000.

Other value management items included alternative materials solutions for lockers, ceiling finishes and cladding profiles.

Enhancing community outcomes

The college campus is home to one of Adelaide’s largest trade schools; the Grand Junction Trade Training Centre.

Sarah’s team formed an early relationship with the Centre, and created several opportunities for students studying construction, electrical, carpentry and brick laying trades to tour the works at critical stages, and surplus building materials were donated for the Centre’s use.

This initiative was rewarding for students and Sarah’s team alike, and provided an opportunity to give back to the clients who grant Sarah a social licence to operate.

Better outcomes for students and staff

Sarah’s team met fortnightly with college staff and the project’s consultants and facilitated several site tours during construction.

This regular and open approach to communication resulted in enhanced outcomes particularly as works neared completion, when Sarah’s team devised a staged system whereby limited numbers of staff safely accessed the substantially complete building, accelerating set-up in time for the school term.