Location
Meadowbank, NSW
Client
School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW)
Project
Education facilities at the Meadowbank Education & Employment Precinct (SMEEP)
Overview
In August 2017 blueVisions were appointed Project Management Consultants for the Meadowbank Education & Employment Precinct (SMEEP).
This Precinct incorporates education facilities for Years K-12 across 3.3 hectares within the Meadowbank TAFE site.
The Project required:
- Multiple construction projects within the Precinct
- Agility to adapt as project specifications and key decision-makers changed
- Master planning to accommodate more students in the future, if required
- Co-ordination with the Greater Sydney Commission, Department of Education NSW and SINSW team
Project Purpose
To create a wider Education and Employment Precinct connecting primary, secondary, ESL and TAFE educational facilities with local industries and the wider community.
Project Goals
Facilitate the relocation of the existing Marsden High School and Meadowbank Public School to a 3.3 hectare portion of the Meadowbank TAFE site for the NSW Department of Education.
blueVisions’ Role
To manage the design, development and construction process including:
- Modification to building heights
- Cost reductions by simplifying the façade
- Reorienting the building to relocate the primary and high school entries to address stakeholder concerns around student safety
- Improve the relationship with the neighbouring TAFE facility to facilitate future co-operation between educational centres
- Master planning, business case preparation, preparation of schematic design, tender documentation, as well as design and construction documentation leading to NSW Treasury Gateways 1-4 review
- Project construction, commission and handover
Project Scope
- New high school facilities for 1500 students with a master plan to accommodate an additional 500 students, if required
- New primary school facilities for 1000 students
- New intensive English Centre for 120 migrant children
- Co-ordination with the Greater Sydney Commission in creating the Meadowbank Education and Employment Precinct which encompasses expanding existing Meadowbank TAFE facilities
- Provide technology-rich settings that focus on mobility and flexibility
- Produce educational facilities that are accessible and flexible to meet the demands of an evolving curriculum
- Design learning centres that are engaging and supportive for both students and teachers
- Flexible and well-connected spaces to support a variety of teaching and learning practices – including a centralised library embedded into the landscape
Challenges
There are always challenges with a project of this magnitude. In particular, blueVisions managed:
- Demolition of existing buildings and removal of hazardous building material
- Short construction times requiring implementation of a fast-tracked procurement model
- Management of multiple construction projects within the same area
Outcomes to date
Stages 1-4 completed successfully with Stages 5-7 continuing
