A modern-day makeover was on the cards for five schools across the country – with our teams pulling all the stops to deliver to tight timeframes while ensuring sustainable outcomes were achieved.
As a part of the CPB Southbase Joint Venture for the Ministry of Education, Powell Fenwick’s services engineering, sustainability, fire engineering and acoustics teams designed three new primary schools in Auckland and Hamilton, and the new Avonside Girls’ and Shirley Boys’ high schools in Christchurch.
With sustainability a key focus, requirements around energy efficiency, daylighting, low flow water fittings and BMS monitoring systems were incorporated.
All schools were given heat recovery ventilation and enhanced ventilation rates. The primary schools were designed with automated natural ventilation and VRF systems, while the new high school has high efficiency hot water heat pumps in place.
The facades also include glazing and thermal insulation, optimised for energy efficiency and daylighting performance.
Daylighting and energy simulations undertaken demonstrated good performance to assist design decisions. The results speak for themselves – showing a 67 percent reduction for the primary schools and 70 percent reduction for the secondary schools against the Reference Buildings for modelling, in accordance with Green Star requirements.
We are proud to have delivered these schools to the Ministry’s strict timeframes and requirements with sustainability a valued part of the design process. Ka pai to all involved!
Schools included:
- Matua Ngaru School, Huapai Auckland
- Te Ao Mārama Primary School, Hamilton
- Te Uho O Te Nikau Primary School, Flat Bush Auckland
- Avonside Girls’ High School and Shirley Boys’ High School, Christchurch.
