Northen Beaches Christian School, STEM Building
Rohrig is excited to have completed a cutting-edge three-story Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) building at the Northern Beaches Christian School, forming the centrepiece for the prestigious school.
The new STEM building covers all bases, featuring nine science laboratories across three levels, two classrooms, two seminar rooms, dedicated server room, chemical store room, lab preparation room, general learning areas, amenities and two bridges connecting the building to adjacent facilities. The building also features a stunning terrace garden with seating, a landscaped outdoor learning area and playscape, as well as a greenhouse.
WMK Architecture handled the design of the new STEM building, while Midson Group managed the project, culminating in a world-class educational facility that elevates the school while adhering to its existing design themes.
The three-story building features an intricate stepped glazed facade, exposed CHS steel truss roof and off-form concrete columns and walls, with raked roof and facade angles throughout to match the adjacent Barcelona building. Inside, each laboratory features stone-top benches, as well as built-in joinery units containing TVs and fume cupboards, while the halls of the building feature lockers and baggage storage areas. Connecting each level of the new building is both a lift and internal stairs.
Construction commenced with the demolition of the previous building, before we began on the structure. We established an innovative site-based pre-cast column concept for this project, allowing us to achieve a two-storey Class 2 finish with no cold joints which reduced time, cost and logistical difficulties.
The drainage system within the columns required unique installation techniques, with our team suspending each column over a pedestal while the hydraulic contractor completed welding of the siphonic system into the formwork. After completing the siphonic system installation, the columns were lowered onto the pad. The roof was also particularly complex to install, requiring precision craning of the trusses into position as our team meticulously installed purlins and bracing.
We also worked around the school’s needs, opting for a ‘tools down’ approach during dedicated prayer times, while we used traffic control at high-traffic access points, and of course we kept all construction noise to a minimum.