Project

Geraldine High School is a co-educational school in rural South Canterbury, providing education for students Years 7 to 13. Built in the early 1970s, the high school’s gymnasium had come to the end of its lifecycle and was closed at the end of 2023 due to health and safety issues. Acknowledging the need for a modern, functional facility, the Ministry of Education reached out for a full Design and Build solution.

From the outset, this project was shaped through close consultation with Geraldine High School to ensure the new gymnasium would meet operational and educational needs. Working alongside school leadership and the Ministry, our team transformed these requirements into a comprehensive proposal. The result: a single-court facility featuring a high-quality KTL Pro 2 timber floor, along with changing rooms, amenities, a foyer, office, multipurpose space, and storage areas.

Political and community support for the project was strong, with local MPs Miles Anderson (Waitaki) and James Meager (Rangitata) showing their backing by attending the site as demolition of the old gymnasium was completed.

Constructing a major facility on the grounds of an operational school presented significant logistical challenges. Safety, communication, and coordination were critical. Our project manager maintained consistent and transparent communication with school staff, ensuring they were always informed of upcoming activities, changes, or safety considerations. This proactive approach minimised disruption and maintained a safe environment for students and staff throughout the project.

One rewarding element of this project was our commitment to integrating educational opportunities by inviting students to visit key facilities involved in the project, including:

• Our steel workshop, where they saw firsthand how structural steel is fabricated.
• Our precast plant, which demonstrated how precast panels are produced and handled.
• Our design office, where students were introduced to advanced Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies.

Through these visits, students gained insight into the world of construction, engineering, and design in a practical and inspiring way—supporting future career pathways and real-world learning.

On Friday, January 31st, the new gymnasium was officially opened to the public in a celebratory event attended by students, staff, and community members. The project was delivered within just 192 working days of signing the first stage of the two-stage contract, under the budget of $3.9 million. The scope included the demolition of the existing building and all associated horizontal civil works. It has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved – and most importantly, it provides.