Stage two of Waimea College is a continuation on from our Stage one design. The timber tech structure means the only concrete used in the building is in the ground floor slab and pathways. The structural shear walls are timber, with exposed timber cross braces. The first floor and ceiling system are exposed timber Potius box beam sections, constructed locally.
Other materials and systems used include a warm roof, an acoustic batten & cradle floor, sustainable New Zealand grown and manufactured Abodo timber decking, and acoustic wall linings made in New Zealand from recycled plastic bottles. There is the equivalent of 42,000 2L plastic bottles that have been removed from the waste cycle and manufactured into acoustic wall linings, across both Stage one & Stage two buildings.
Client: Ministry of Education
Architects: Arthouse Architects | Sheppard & Rout Architects
Project Managers: The Building Intelligence Group
Contractors: Fitzgerald Construction
Engineers: Beca
Photography: Virginia Woolf
Stage 2 consists of 8 standard teaching spaces for English, with glazed operable wall panels allowing visual connection between classrooms. When opened, the operable walls provide flexibility in teaching space size, with 3 standard spaces able to become one large space.
Each teaching space is accessed off shared external decks and pathways, linking to stage one via a bridge connection. Each teaching space also has internal access through the rear spine of the building, allowing good connection, egress and safety. Landscaping is due to start shortly for the horticulture gardens and grassed courtyard between buildings. We are proud to have produced these quality learning spaces for Waimea College, alongside a great team.
