This school was badly impacted by a range of building dilapidation issues including weather-tightness and other general age related deterioration. Much of the supporting services infrastructure (electrical; drainage; storm water; heating etc.) is also failing.
Garry Boon of PCG Solutions was engaged by the MOE’s Central Region Property Office in late 2010 to carry out a ‘due diligence’ review of the many different reports on various building (and services) failures that had been commissioned by the school BOT and MOE officials over preceding years.
Following Garry’s report, the Ministry of Education approved funding of $13.9 million for redevelopment of the school to address its crucial issues.
Garry was been appointed by the MOE as the Project Director for this project.
PCG Solutions key deliverables for the project included;
- Recommending an appropriate project governance model and establishing an effective Project Control Group.
- Engaging the services of an independent Cost Engineer to review project budgets; develop cost plan and monitor financial performance through the project.
- Development of an outline Project Plan and establishment of project monitoring and reporting frameworks.
- Working with MOE officials to recommend model for procurement of design and construction services for the project. The model implemented was a 2 phase Design / Build / GMP contract in which the Architect and other professional design consultants were engaged by the GMP Contractor. Phase 1 took the project through to preliminary design and development of the GMP. In phase 2 the detailed design was developed and construction work completed.
- Managing the ROI and RFP processes for procurement of design and construction services.
- Facilitation of PCG and design meetings.
- Managing relationships with project stakeholder including the BOT, MOE New Buildings office; MOE Regional Property office; School Principal; Design consultants; construction tenderers and the head contractor.
After several years and a couple of ‘false starts’ the school Principal and Board of Trustees are extremely relieved that this project is finally nearing completion and they have openly expressed their view that Garry Boon’s ability to work collaboratively with the wide range of stakeholders in often sensitive situations has contributed significantly to bringing the project to its successful conclusion.
Construction logistics for this project were immensely complex. The school has almost 1000 students, and more than 60% of the existing teaching spaces are being demolished. There is much stress from the schools perspective and one of the key challenges on the project was maintaining positive and collaborative working relationships between all the stakeholder parties. Considering the amount of ‘upheaval’ occurring during construction, the parties worked extremely collaboratively and everyone involved is excited about this outstanding and comprehensive transformation of the school.
Construction of phase 1 (Technology Campus) was completed for occupation by the school at the start of term 1 2013. Phase 2 (Student Centre plus half of the main new teaching block) was completed and occupied by the school in the final term of 2013, and the final stage (horticulture area and Wharenui) was handed over to the school in February 2014.
