Careful planning and collaboration to accommodate a busy senior school schedule and unique natural location resulted in an award-winning extension for Nazareth Catholic College in Adelaide’s western suburbs.

  • Sector Education
  • Client Catholic Church Endowment Society Inc
  • Location Flinders Park SA
  • Value $8.4M
  • Contract Lump Sum

Comprising a 2650m² two-storey extension to existing teaching areas, the Caritas Building was constructed at Nazareth Catholic College secondary campus on Holbrooks Road.

The $8m lump sum contract incorporated a complex structural steel portal frame system using a strong, versatile, high performance cladding system and commercial aluminium framed glazing.

A key feature of this project was the installation of a 25m suspended pedestrian link bridge connecting the Caritas Building with the existing campus to improve internal accessibility. The construction of the link and associated paths was scheduled over weekends and school holidays to minimise the intrusion on campus.

A new mechanical services roof plant platform, designed to be retrofitted over occupied buildings to reduce any aesthetic impact, was also built out of school hours.

In consultation with the local council, our team eliminated any risk to the public using the adjacent Linear Park walkway by creating a detour around the work site.

Taking advantage of the natural surrounds, light plays a key role in the building’s design to create peaceful and tranquil learning and social areas for both students and staff.

The overall result is a building with highly decorative finishes, interesting design ambience and functional student areas for the benefit of the whole school community.

Awards

This project was Highly Commended at the 2019 AIB SA Professional Excellence in Building Awards in the Commercial Construction $1m- $25m category.

It also won a 2019 Learning Environments SA and NT Award for New Construction/Individual Facility over $8million.