Torrens Valley Christian School, (TVCS)

Maintaining architectural intent

The perimeter of the building features stunning curved pairs of brick piers, which welcome the school community from each side, and originally designed for construction using a custom curved brick product.

During the value management process, and working collaboratively with the masonry subcontractor and architect, Sarah’s team identified that the same aesthetic could be achieved using a readily available standard brick, cut to the radius of the curve.

This methodology resulted in significant cost and time savings, without compromise to quality or the architectural intent.

Enhancing outcomes with alternative materials

The roofline facia of the new building features curved corner detailing, designed to be constructed in hollow aluminium lengths.

Sarah’s team determined that this material was not robust enough to be curved without creasing, and recommended the use of a sold aluminium sheet, which required more effort to shape, but yielded a superior result.

The building also features a set of curved windows on two sides, and Sarah worked closely with the aluminium glazing contractor to test several iterations of frames to ensure a high-quality finish.

Evaluating trenching extents 

During the early works phase, Sarah had the opportunity to review the service trenching design.

The project team used its experience to reduce the scope while maintaining the functional objectives, saving the client several thousand dollars and accelerating the works.

Managing industry constraints  

The project was delivered at a time where the industry was still slowly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and facing significant labour and material shortages. During construction, two subcontractors were forced to withdraw, leaving Sarah to find other suitable high-quality contractors at short notice.

Sarah leveraged its respectful relationships with the local industry, and other internal project managers to replace the trades as quickly as practicable, resequencing activities to other work fronts to maintain the program.

Sarah’s commitment to efficient and open communication allowed the school to review project timeframes without significant impact to operations.

Working within an operational, constrained school environment

With the new building constructed directly adjacent to occupied classrooms and the school oval, and a constrained construction footprint, the safety and amenity of the students and staff was paramount.

Sarah’s site staff held weekly meetings with the wider project team including the Principal, Business Manager, and Facilities Management staff to fully understand the operational requirements of the school.

Construction zones were completely segregated from the school and wider community, and delivery vehicles and plant directed to site along a new temporary access road behind the oval, to maintain the integrity of the grounds. Noise generating works were identified ahead of time and limited to out-of-school hours when practicable, and no radios were allowed on site.

Managing environmental and geotechnical challenges

The geological profile of the site includes reactive clay soil known to result in cracking in building bases and walls. Sarah’s team was required to excavate to a depth of 2.5 metres and replace the soil with engineered fill; this process uncovered several large boulders which were reused as landscaping features.

The team also removed a large non-significant gum tree and worked with the school to retain the stump as a feature in the nature play precinct.

Good neighbours

With the school’s main access and drop-off/pick-up point located off one of Adelaide’s busiest arterial roads, Grand Junction Road, Sarah planned for all deliveries and project vehicles to access the site using a side street much further along, to avoid congestion and better manage safety.

This route passed through a residential area, and Sarah worked with the local council to communicate regularly with the project’s neighbours and used a street sweeper to maintain amenity.

Extensive value management  

With the project delivered during a period of cost escalation, Sarah’s team was focused on identifying cost efficient materials and products that could be used without compromise to quality.

Items of significant value recommended and adopted included standard bricks cut on a curve to construct the building’s pier features, solid aluminium facia materials, alternative bathroom tiles, basins and tapware, and rationalisation of the service trenching.

In total, more than $150,000 in savings were attributed to Sarah’s value management processes.

Preparing the school community for their new facilities

Sarah was proactive in inviting the school’s staff and board to tour the new building at different stages of construction.

These invitations were warmly accepted by guests, and facilitated forward planning for use of the new spaces and maintained the sense of excitement around the project.

The team also welcomed a class of middle school technology students who enjoyed a presentation of carpentry techniques.