St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace

Mt. Sion & Duhig Place re-development

The Mt Sion and Duhig Place redevelopment consisted of the construction of a three-part, three-storey administration building, external landscaping, refurbishment of the library, new roof and structure for the indoor basketball stadium, and the refurbishment of the 25-metre pool. Building over an existing structure, without changing or damaging it, is challenging at the best of times. In this case, it required a bridge-like design to be built above the original 1970s post-tensioned slab. Only four columns support the whole structure, with the slabs constructed like a bridge to span the distance over these columns.

This is just one example of how Rohrig identified areas of cost savings for the school without compromising the scope or quality of the project. The new building will house the administration team on the first floor, with meeting rooms and a new reception and foyer. In addition, a new open basketball court and outdoor kitchen/BBQ area were constructed on the roof level. This provided a clever urban solution to the school’s long-held problem of insufficient outdoor space.