New multi-purpose centre for St Patrick’s College

St Patrick’s College is taking the first steps towards the construction of a new multi-purpose centre on the Wanliss St side of the College.

The need for such a centre has been identified following a thorough Master Planning process which was launched in late 2018.

The facility is intended to include an assembly hall, a permanent stage, flexible learning spaces, performing arts rooms, music tutorial rooms and associated storage areas. The facility will also include the creation of a new amenities area for the students and provide a new, safe, and welcoming forecourt for the Wanliss Street entry.

The proposed construction of a multi-purpose centre will reap significant benefits across the College.

Consistent with the advice of the master plan this priority project will enhance the opportunities of the HaPE faculty to stay on-site and, in particular, have exclusive use of the O’Malley Gym which the College will maintain into the foreseeable future.

The College, in accordance with Edmund Rice Education Australia Capital Procurement protocols, will now seek to finalise the exact location and design of the proposed facility with the assistance of project management firm Gallagher Jeffs.

Gallagher Jeffs will be help guide the final design specifications, assist in the appointment of architects, builders, and consultants, and manage the construction stage.

In association with Gallagher Jeffs, the College looks forward to providing ongoing updates to its community over the coming months.

In the next six to months we expect to appoint architects, finalise the design and run a tender process to appoint the builders before commencing building in mid-to-late 2021, subject to council and EREA approval. The construction phase is then anticipated to be 12 months.

We are further delighted to announce that the College has in March 2020 applied through the Australian Government Capital Grants Program for financial assistance with this project and we look forward to giving you updates on its progress late in 2020.

The College’s Master Planning process commenced in late 2018 in conjunction with the launch of its Strategic Directions 2019 – 2021 plan.

Guided by an educational vision document authored by Acting Principal Mr Stephen Hill, chaired by College Business Manager Mr Andrew Ballesty and developed with the professional guidance of Morton Dunn Architects, the Master Planning process looks to a sustainable long-term development of College facilities from both an educational and financial perspective.

The process engaged in wide-ranging investigations, site visits and consultation processes with staff, students, and the Board to ensure that the resulting plan was a wholistic consideration of the pedagogical and physical requirements of the College into foreseeable future.

Recent years have seen the construction of the Food Technology, Boarding and VCAL Centres, while 2019 and 2020 has been a period of consolidation, developing a series of small projects such as the OCA Year 12 Study Centre, the Student Support Centre, as well as the refurbishment of such areas as the Bernard Heinz Theatre and the Drama room.

All these developments reflect our ongoing commitment to providing excellent learning opportunities and facilities for our students. The Master Plan now sets out a road map for the major projects in the years ahead.

Based on the starting questions of: What enables us? and What constrains us? the 18-month process ultimately identified the following key focus areas for development in the next five years:

– A purpose-built assembly hall,

– Purpose built performing arts and music spaces,

– An enhanced student hub inclusive of covered areas and a redeveloped canteen area,

– Additional indoor spaces for HaPE and sporting activities,

– Refurbishment of the front reception.

The plan also identified that all areas of future developments should include consideration of:

– enhanced covered areas to address extreme weather,

– environmental considerations,

– enhanced flow of the site to consolidate faculties, and

– increased access to amenities.

St Patrick’s College can also announce that it has commenced a process to redesign and develop the existing front reception with a view to delivering that project in 2021.

We have also explored concepts on the redevelopment of the student hub and the College ovals, however, these are not the priority projects at this time.

The master plan also gives advice on other projects that may be developed in the longer term beyond five years.

The College looks forward to providing updates to you in the months ahead as these exciting projects progress. The future looks very bright.