Formerly known as Kellyville South Public School, the new Bella Vista Public School has been upgraded to include a new Primary School on a green field site. The new school will cater for 1,000 primary school students from Kindergarten to Year 6 and is located on Fairway Drive in Bella Vista.
Due to our extensive engineering experience within the education sector, Woolacotts were engaged to provide Structural and Civil engineering services on this $44 million project.
Facilities for students and the local community
The new facilities include multi-purpose school buildings containing collaborative learning spaces and classrooms, a new learning hub, offices for teaches and administrative staff, a new student canteen, and an ancillary outdoor classroom and amphitheater, as well as a 1,550m2 sports hall containing 2 sports courts, toilets, change rooms and ancillary storage rooms.
The works will also involve the construction of an exterior sports field and public domain improvements along Fairway Drive, Ernesta Place and Free Settlers Drive. An agreement made between the Hills Shire Council and NSW Department of Education means the outdoor football field and two-court sports hall will be available for use by the local community outside of school hours.
This project was particularly unique as the structure needed to cater to school requirements as well as those of the local community. When developing our engineering designs, we factored in the facility’s multiple functions to make sure relevant structures would meet the requirements, and were built to sustain round-the-clock use.”
– Joe Spatola, Woolacotts Senior Structural Engineer
Featured above: Construction footage of the new Bella Vista Public School by School Infrastructure NSW
Designs to match specific Educational Principles
The Woolacotts Structural and Civil Engineering team developed a thorough design concept which was based around the following Educational Principles:
- Create an innovative and sustainable, contemporary new school for a new community supported by technology
- Include flexible and stimulating spaces that are adaptable for the changing needs of students and learning modes
- A community-focused and holistic learning environment, shared library/hall/sporting ground
- Well-connected indoor and outdoor learning spaces
Associated site landscaping including sunken play spaces; linear learning nodes; covered outdoor learning area (COLA); bush play area; central courtyard; turf areas; playground; and sports fields. Woolacotts consulted on high quality and budget appropriate materials that met the design brief, while ensuring the facilities are securely structured, and long lasting . Materials used in this project included a brick wall façade, compact laminate cladding, fixed glazing, aluminum blades, glazed louvres, and metal sheets with vertical flats.
To learn more about our experience in the education sector, head to our projects page here.
