Education Construction

Staff and students are now enjoying over 1800 sqm of new facilities. Including a sprung sports floor, stage, foyer and amenities, the new building provides the school endless options. An operable facade adjoining the school sports ground integrates the new spaces into the existing.

Built on under-utilized school land, the scope included the exterior landscaping, complex 7m tall curved profile concrete pillars, imported coloured claddings, and faceted glazing on the foyer. The project was executed in uncertain post-Covid supply conditions with difficult weather.

• Imported custom cladding for fire retardance and weathering
• Complex 7m tall concrete pillars with curved profiles
• Live school environment requiring flexible programming
• Polished sprung sports flooring

Centrum Architects designed this expansive, early learning centre for the Gippsland community of Leongatha. Built on vacant land, it’s positioned within a growing residential district.

Spanning over 1500m², construction involved a partitioned slab with sections including 5 foot perimeter beams. After the slabs were cured, multiple rooms of the building were then fitted with post-pour hydronic heating systems.

The building features steel framing, a dramatic, curved and interleaving roof line, recycled polymer cladding and patterned brickwork. The window schedule included both internal and external glazing including some novel polycarbonate glazing.

To complete the build, the scope also comprised a $196k commercial joinery suite providing cabinets, a reception, a semi-commercial kitchen and significant landscape package.

• Permatimber cladding (95% recycled polymer)
• Polycarbonate feature windows
• Intercomms to all rooms
• Hydronic heating

Staff and students of St Angela of the Cross Primary School are now enjoying over 1200 square metres of new facilities. Including 8 new classrooms, an art room, dedicated teacher quiet spaces, common areas and a student canteen ... the new extension provides versatile spaces for teaching staff to operate.

The common areas and some classrooms have large sliding doors which open onto Modwood decking, then out into the expansive gardens and play areas. The landscaping scope included rock work, a dry river bed, custom carved logs and play equipment ... in total it equals the building footprint in size.

Inside, a large joinery package provides staff and students endless storage options in the rooms. Many of the spaces include sliding doors which allow rooms to be combined. Overall, this was a great project for the school community who have been very complimentary.

• Imported Swisspearl cladding designed for fire retardance and extreme weather resistance
• Modwood timber decking serviced by large double glazed sliders
• Extensive landscaping incl. both synthetic and natural materials
• Live operating environment which required flexible and cooperative programming

Set in undeveloped land adjacent a primary school, the Warragul Early Learning Centre was built in a secure construction site while the school remained operational. The building itself represented 500 square meters of land with a similar area allocated to a car park extension, playground, and other civil facilities.

To cope with the steep site, the foundations were multi-levelled and included precast panels for the interconnecting ramp-work. Construction techniques included core-filled block-work and structural steel. In parts, the steel was ornamental, and beams were left exposed as they pass through the building envelope. In particular, the entrance features exposed C-channels and beautiful spotted gum 40x40 batten cladding.

The installation of numerous circular windows presented flashing and other architectural challenges which are now standout features of the facade and interior partitions. The roof and many of the walls were clad in ColorBond and finished with four banks of PV solar arrays. The scope included a full joinery and internal fit-out completed in detail.

Works were completed on-time, within budget and to a very satisfied customer.

• Live and operational secure site in a primary school
• Exposed structural steel continuing from interior to exterior
• Feature 40 x 40 spotted-gum timber work in entrance / foyer
• Complex circular window installation on internal and external walls

On time and on budget ... actually early ... much to the client’s delight.

Operating within a live and operational site, Kubale Construction staff cordoned off the dilapidated basketball courts and began work to construct an expansive enclosure. The scope included the addition of 4 new classrooms, a staff room, 3 offices and Yr 12 study area along with amenities.

A huge portal steel frame was erected with 90t cranes which was then roofed with an insulating panel. Once sealed, the courts were resurfaced, remarked and new sporting equipment was installed as part of the refurbishment.

The offices and classrooms were clad in Exotec and fully detailed by our staff including floor coverings, glazing, lighting, joinery, and electrical/technology installations. Handover to a very happy client was performed within the budget and early, well prior to the client’s needs.

• Portal steel framework with insulated panel roofing
• Working safely within a live and operational environment
• Exotec claddings on offices and classrooms
• Large portal steel frame erected with 90t cranes

Working within an operational education site, our most senior Site Manager began work to build a bespoke educational facility at the Seaford Park Primary School.

After the removal of portable rooms, the site was scratched clean, and a 1300 sq. metre raft slab was laid in the shape of the letter “Y” from an aerial view. A structural steel portal frame was then erected over the slab followed by a very complex 3D roof providing atrium lighting to the central hub.

Infill steel stud work was then built within the frame over which steel Colourbond cladding was applied. Given the purpose of the rooms, almost all internal linings provided superior acoustic properties including the ceilings. Rooms were divided by oversize sliding doors and openings completed with a double-glazed commercial aluminium window suite.

The scope included extensive joinery, a kitchen, and data cabling to finish. The site was handed over in time for the new school year and is now fully operational.

• Structural steel portal frame
• Acoustic linings throughout with double-glazing
• 1300m² complex 3D roof in the shape of the letter “Y”

Prior to construction, staff demolished existing facilities and cleared the site. Our contract was to construct over 500 square metres of new administration building (within an operational site). The design included staff rooms, a reception area with feature lighting, kitchenette, joinery, toilets, and several multipurpose rooms with custom pin boards.

The scope of works included a minimal landscaping package with large curved, aerated polished concrete blockwork forming s-shaped seating for students and staff. Site drainage was included within the existing civil context, and a covered connection between the new and existing buildings was constructed/completed.

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• Steel framing with both steel and brick cladding
• Glazed face brickwork adjacent conventional bricks
• Aerated, curved and polished concrete landscaping blocks

The Lumen Christi Primary School services the Churchill community and was funded to refurbish their library building to modernise the facilities.

Kubale Constructions was awarded the tender and began with the demolition of the existing structures. The site included about 440m² and required the removal of the windows and doors from the exterior facade.

Works included new floor coverings, walls, and interior glazed partitions. The exterior walls received new brick cladding to window level with improved security on the new aluminium window and door suite. New bathrooms and a kitchenette were built as part of a full joinery package from our in-house facilities to complete the refit.

Outside, basic garden beds and surrounding concreting paving were installed before handover. Works were completed on-time, within budget and handed over to a very satisfied customer.

• Joinery package with new bathrooms and staffroom kitchenette
• External brickwork with new aluminium window and door suite
• Planar panel system

This existing space was cleared and reformatted for a new, architecturally designed kinder/prep play area. In particular, this very progressive and challenging design required exceptional attention to the joinery details.

A host of complementary and contrasting materials create a dynamic space that’s both functional and aesthetic. Maxiply Fireshield was used to provide fire resistant surfaces in the play space, and all fixings needed to be flush or concealed to protect the children.

Our staff worked very closely with the designer to fit the concept into the space and to overcome challenges as they presented. The large variety of materials, finishes, angles, and suppliers made this a complex project to manage. Delivered on time and on budget.

• Maxiply Fireshield flame resistant timber sheeting
• Concealed, flush and safety fixings employed to protect the children
• Complex joinery in a range of materials required exceptional attention
• Large variety of techniques, suppliers and materials required

This project required the refurbishment of several existing rooms at the Frankston Primary School. Areas included were classroom spaces, break-out spaces, and an amphitheatre for the lower primary school grades.

Works encompassed an arched/curved birch ply room divider, recessed shelving details, a wet area and pigeonholes. The curved and stepped levels in the amphitheatre provides an assembly and presentation area for the children. The coloured panels on the walls were clad with pin board materials (Autex) to provide acoustic benefits and a place for mounting artwork and notices.

The scope also included the replacement of the windows with new aluminium sets. The design mirrored the original timber windows to satisfy the heritage overlay.

This project was successfully completed on time and within budget.

• Curved birch ply joinery
• Autex acoustic pin board cladding

After a competitive tender, Kubale Constructions began a 290m² extension to the Drouin Primary Early Learning Centre. The development included a new a kitchen joinery package, two storerooms, an office, two consultation rooms and a storage shed.

Construction techniques were conventional and involved Exotec cladding on a steel frame.

While working on a live school and kindergarten site, we managed traffic and negotiated mutually acceptable working hours collaboratively with the ELC staff, parents and the Baw Baw Shire to minimise disruption and hazards to daily operations.

• Exotec external cladding
• Constructions with a live school and kindergarten environment
• Traffic mgt. complexities around school pick-up / drop-off times