Preston North East Primary School
Additional Info
Award Winner : Fleetwood Building Solutions
Architectural Excellence : Calling for a solution that would deliver a rapid build time with minimal site disruption during normal school operation, offsite construction was the only reliable procurement method to address these significant drivers. Delivering two independent buildings with an interconnecting covered area that created outdoor learning opportunities, access to amenities, visually connecting the core of the school to the extensive playing fields on the school’s southern boundary. Featuring double height volume central gathering spaces illuminated with natural daylighting, this modular project responded to site context, delivered flexible teaching and gathering spaces suited to a contemporary pedagogy, in stark contrast to the building it replaced. Constructed off site as 53 modules (1085 sqm), separately transported to site and installed. Incorporating onsite brickwork into the build was a vital aspect of creating the look and feel of a traditional build with the benefits of modular prefabrication.
Cost Energy Effectiveness : Whilst the overriding pragmatic issue for the project was to replace the existing permanent facility that had reached end of life, offsite construction and prefabrication shortened the requirement for decanting facilities, maintaining continuity for the school and delivering significant cost benefits to the project. This “value” mindset extended to the thoughtful exploration of the design brief, maximising utilisation through flexibility and secondary uses also delivered project cost effectiveness. i.e. art deck extension, music room, creation of internal spaces through splayed classroom layouts, splitting the project into 2 buildings and the incorporation of separate amenities facilities. Collaborating closely with a client-side project delivery team throughout the process enabled all parties to work through issues identified promptly. Concurrent construction of the two separate structures offsite, allowed for onsite works to marry up with the compressed project schedule.
Green Building Description : The building design approach embraces pragmatic passive design principles that reflect the site opportunities and constraints. These passive design principles are supplemented through technology solutions to ensure a building environment that delivers high amenity at low operating cost. The 2 independent building structures aligned along an east -west axis ensure a maximum favourable northern exposure. Effective overhangs, eaves and covered areas to control solar heat gain without diminishing natural daylighting opportunities. Carefully placed fenestration openings allow for effective natural ventilation that is charged through the thermal “stack” effect created by openings at the higher clerestory level. High efficiency glazing is employed on the southern façade to maximise daylighting. In addition to the external envelope, internal partitioning utilises bulk insulation to maximise thermal efficiency and provide acoustic comfort, reducing the reliance on mechanical plant solutions.
Occupied Date : 12/19/2018
Production Start Date : 6/11/2018
Project Location City : Preston
Project Location State Name : Victoria
Technical Innovation : It is evident from the successful project outcome that procurement with offsite construction and modular prefabrication doesn’t limit the realisation of design opportunities. A splayed arrangement of the general learning areas create the central gathering spaces demarcated with high clerestory roofing sections. A dual-purpose general learning area built to accommodate music classes has been detailed with the required acoustic separation achieved through insulated partitioning and a discontinuous structural frame design. Further careful positioning of the art classroom area to the adjacent outdoor access and circulation deck was able to create an outdoor extension of the art classroom maximising the potential for additional space to use for certain classes. Modular construction improves on the traditional insitu project outcomes by leveraging the benefits modular factory prefabrication bring to the procurement process; quality control, time, cost, value, reduced waste, sustainability.
Total Square Feet : 1085
Category : Permanent: Education: over 10,000 sq. ft.