Iona Presentation College – Stage 5 & 6

Awards

2021 Australian Institute of Building National Professional Excellence Award – Commercial Construction $25million to $60million

2021 Australian Institute of Building Western Australia Professional Excellence Award – Commercial Construction $25million to $60million

2021 Master Builders Association Western Australia Construction Excellence Award – Best Education Building $20million to $50million

The project consisted of the demolition and re-development of the existing boarding house and library facilities. Located in the heart of the campus directly adjacent to the heritage listed year 12 teaching centre, performing arts building and East wing science block. EIW architects were engaged to provide a sympathetic yet modern upgrade to the site for future generations.

The initial stages of the project involved demolition of the existing structures which was undertaken during the summer break 2018/2019 and completed prior to the return of the students. Once the site was cleared the in-ground basement, structural concrete and service works progressed. This required temporary works sheet piling adjacent to the year 12 building.

The main structural frame was reinforced concrete with a structural steelwork framed roof structure, core filled blockwork shear walls supplemented this with the main core areas.

Floor levels were split from the Western to the Eastern sides of the building with a level difference of 1.8m per floor effectively giving eight different floor plates. The sequencing of these pours was critical to the successful completion of the structural frame as the limited access for concrete pumps and cranage could have resulted in the project being ‘built out’ due to the completion of certain sections of the works.

Once the structural elements were complete the external feature “Swiss Pearl” façade cladding framing, sarking and paneling could commence in conjunction with the aluminium window and curtain walling installation.

Due to acoustic constraints there was significantly more mechanical air handling and chiller capacity allocated to the project, the strategy was to have a larger amount of equipment working under less load, supplemented by high grade acoustic treatments to the equipment and plant rooms, this was followed through with acoustic ceiling in critical teaching areas within the internal fit-out.

The internal fit-out comprised of high-level finishes such as:

Specialist Venetian polished plaster treatments to the stairs, lift shaft and feature walls.
Acoustic mineral ceiling treatments to specific areas.
Feature acoustic timber ceiling installation.
Imported feature tiling to staff and student washrooms.
Extensive bespoke joinery fit-out to classrooms, staffroom, libraries and washrooms.
Construction of tiered forum seating and presentation area.
Installation of audio-visual fit-out including equipment integrated into existing school systems.
Polished concrete entry foyer floor finishes.
Feature concrete and timber spiral staircase.

Externally existing paved areas were enhanced by additional exposed aggregate concrete finishes, limestone and concrete tiered seating and paths, pond with water features and donnybrook stone cladding, steppingstones and stairs.

All works were undertaken whilst students and staff were utilising all surrounding buildings and access routes. These were sequenced to avoid disruption to the daily operations of the college, and successfully completed with high regard for safety, quality, scheduling, and cost

CLIENT:
IONA PRESENTATION COLLEGE

ARCHITECT:
EIW ARCHITECTS