St John Henry Newman College is born
Rohrig recently delivered the first stage of Brisbane’s newest independent co-educational school, St John Henry Newman College, transforming the Tarragindi site into a vibrant educational environment.
The vision for this all-new college was brought to life by architects Ink Duck and managed by Project Strategies, utilising a mix of new and existing buildings that are connected by beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces to form an inspiring campus.
The path to delivery for this project began long before construction started, with our team offering valuable design input. By leveraging our deep experience in the education sector, our team was able to prioritise essential works and remove non-critical scope from the project. This strategic approach not only allowed us to meet the client’s budget but guaranteed the facilities would be ready for the first school bell in 2026, which was no small task.
The physical works began with the demolition of an existing house, managed carefully due to asbestos, clearing the way for Building B. The new building was then constructed, complete with two classrooms, amenities, data infrastructure, and an outdoor deck.
Our team also refurbished existing structures on the site, with a hall reimagined as a versatile centre for student activities, while the chapel was converted to serve as both a place of worship and the administration building.
“We had short time to complete this project, so the school could open in 2026, which meant careful programming from the outset and our Design & Construct service allowed us to do just that,” said Rohrig Construction Manager, Matthew Tucker.
The project is tied together by a landscape designed for play and connection, with new playgrounds, sandpits, turf, and gardens weaving between the buildings, linked by footpaths to create a cohesive campus feel.
With Stage One complete, St John Henry Newman College now embarks on its journey as a contemporary educator, built on a foundation of smart design and quality construction.