Oakhill College Commons brought to life by Rohrig
Oakhill College in Castle Hill, New South Wales, has been elevated with an elegant new three-storey building that will act as both the administration hub and a bustling event space for the growing campus.
The design-and-construct project was delivered by Rohrig and showcases exceptional craftsmanship with an array of intricate finishes including cork feature walls, stunning Blackbutt timber flooring and partitions, and a washed concrete exterior that merges the building with the surrounding environment.
The exceptional facility was designed by BVN Architecture and project managed by Mostyn Copper, marking a significant expansion of the College’s world-class facilities. Among the unique architectural features is that the building is built to the exact dimension of a full brick, both vertically and horizontally. This negated the need for odd sized cut bricks (particularly at reveals of openings), which custom-sized windows and doors accommodated, resulting in cleaner lines and greater symmetry.
Bringing this complex construction project to life began with our team pouring exposed concrete columns in-situ, on a previously unused parcel of land on campus, before a 150-tonne crane was brought in to install the high-performing curtain wall glazing. In an impressive feat of coordination and careful programming, the second-floor slab and the adjoining amphitheatre were then poured in one continuous effort.
Our focus then turned to connecting the new Commons to the surrounding campus. In close collaboration with the architects and engineers, the Rohrig team constructed two link bridges and a glazed canopy between the existing Adrian building and the new structure, creating a covered outdoor learning area.
“This project posed various unique construction challenges, from the design, to the extensive collaboration required for the link bridges, and then the fact it was undertaken in a live school environment which we’ve become very used to carefully managing,” said Rohrig Construction Manager, Dane Malone.
“The unique brick design required absolute precision from our entire team, and that precision carried through the whole project, right through to the meticulous installation of the final finishes. The incredible result is a credit to everyone involved.”
The completion of the Commons provides Oakhill College with an inspiring administration and event hub that is truly world-class, ready to serve the Castle Hill community for generations to come.