Maranatha Christian School Case Study

Maranatha Christian School ‘New Beginnings’

MASTERPLAN & 3 STAGES OF REDEVELOPMENT WORKS

Maranatha Christian School

Endeavour Hills, VIC

MASTERPLAN & 3 STAGES OF REDEVELOPMENT WORKS INTRODUCTION

Service

Sector

Client Budget Size At a Glance

Masterplan & Full Design

Education

Maranatha Christian School

Stage 1 Primary School - $5M | 2019

Stage 2 New Senior School - $7M | 2021

Stage 3 Primary School - $4M | 2023

Stage 1 - 1,280m2

Stage 2 - 1,150m2

Stage 3 - 840m2

“I would highly recommend John Schout and the team from CO-OP Studio.

They went to great lengths to understand our needs and where we wanted to go. CO-OP were also prepared to engage with our whole school community as part of the process.

I was impressed with their ability to listen and suggest solutions that were truly innovative. The overall masterplan developed and design of a modern Junior School building was outstanding and has been enthusiastically received by our community. CO.OP have helped us to create the spaces that will transform student learning, engagement and belonging.”

- William Jackson Principal/CEO - Maranatha Christian School

Since 2018 Maranatha Christian School has been on a very exciting journey of exploring possibilities for New Beginnings at their main campus at Endeavour Hills, Melbourne. The school is a co-educational, independent school located in the outer south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. In 2020 it celebrated 50 years of successfully delivering faith-based education across primary and secondary levels.

From the commencement of the masterplan to a point now where construction is about to commence on stage 3 of redevelopment works – CO.OP have worked collaboratively with the school to realize significant additions and improvements across the campus.

The school is now enjoying considerable increases in community interest and enquiries from prospective parents which the school has indicated have been directly attributable to the new improved facilities.

The information here is a brief summary of the steps taken to procure the planning, documentation and the oversight of each stage of construction. These have all emanated from the completion of the masterplan which carefully and strategically planned the roll out of each phase of works.

Stage 2 - central learning staircase

Stage 1 - building form and landscaping

Maranatha Christian School

Endeavour Hills, VIC

MASTERPLAN

BACKGROUND

Maranatha Christian School grew from humble beginnings to become a multi-campus school supporting students and parents from diverse denominational and cultural backgrounds. The campus at Doveton was the first to be established and was originally the entire school cohort.

Later on, Endeavour Hills was established to provide a mechanism for the growth, particularly providing a secondary cohort.

Over time the school grew to include 3 campuses located at Endeavour Hills (secondary years), Doveton (primary years) and Officer (primary years) however in 2017, after much deliberation, the School Board and Leadership decided to close the Doveton campus and completely relocate to Endeavour Hills.

School leadership decided that a comprehensive masterplan, articulating a strategic facility framework, was important to not only ensure that the suitable addition of a new Junior School, but to also maximize the opportunity to re-envision the entire site for new beginnings.

MASTERPLAN DESIGN

CO.OP was commissioned to work with the school to begin an exciting journey to consider all effective redevelopment possibilities and ultimately propose a framework to support future growth.

Several options were explored for the preferred position of the new Junior School - these were assessed by considering a host of important criteria not least of which was how well did it serve a need for efficient transition from the early learning into junior secondary.

A final decision to build a new, double level facility located on the west side of the site immediately adjacent the existing school oval was seen as the best option. The final masterplan also envisioned the integration of the new Junior School with other future re-developments for the entire campus.

It was also clear, in the early planning phases, that there was a need to provide more space between buildings and precincts with specific building alterations and landscape design solutions.

One of the more challenging features of the Endeavor Hills site is the topography. The level changes, particularly across any north / south axis, present significant constraints when considering both site and facility improvements.

A final masterplan was agreed to, and endorsed by the school board, that articulated a new revitalized educational environment with distinct educational precincts, consisting of both general and specialist learning spaces all connected by carefully considered passive and active recreational play spaces.

FINAL MASTERPLAN

The final masterplan was completed and articulated 4 significant stages of redevelopment – these being:

• Stage 1 – Removal of existing classrooms and the construction of a new two-level Junior School building accommodating Years P-6.

• Stage 2 – Removal of existing specialist spaces and the refurbishment of Block D to include new science and food tech spaces.

• Stage 3 – Removal of existing classrooms and the construction of a new two-level Senior School.

• Stage 4 – New addition and refurbishment of existing Arts and Technology building and construction of a new Early Learning Centre.

MASTERPLAN REVISION - 2023

The Masterplan was updated in 2023 to include some revised thoughts around the new early learning centre as well as some immediate and long-term plans to expand the facilities for the Primary cohort. So, the revised staging, as a result of completing the previous two stages are now as follows:

• Stage 1 & 2 – A new 6 no. classroom GLA Block to accommodate increased student enrollment –particularly in the primary cohort and new school maintenance facilities.

• Stage 3 –. New Early Learning Centre with increased carparking.

• Stage 4 – Refurbishment of existing Material Technology block

• Stage 5 – Extension to the existing two-level Primary School building

• Stage 6 – Refurbishment of existing D block to become the Science, Maths and Food Tech centre.

Maranatha Masterplan (revised)

Stage 2 - building form and landscaping Stage 2 - exterior presentation & seating space

Maranatha Christian School

Endeavour Hills, VIC

COLLABORATION

Throughout all stages of redevelopment CO.OP worked efficiently and in a timely manner with the School’s Project Control Group (PCG) for all phases of the design, documentation and construction.

The PCG was made up of the school’s administration including principal, business manager and other key leaders. CO.OP were represented by the project team members including a project director.

Regular meetings were held during each phase and at times would have other involvement from others to enhance the information and intelligence gathering. This included school board members, other staff, the broader school community and students.

During construction there was a school board appointed project manager who was invaluable as an extra source of information and opinion as well as an additional presence on site.

FUNDING

Supplementary funding was sought from the Victorian Independent Schools Block Grant Authority (VIS BGA), for the first two stages of work, identified in the masterplan. This included the new primary school and secondary school buildings

As part of both the application process and the progressive milestone approvals, there were a series of specific design and documentation deliverables to procure timely approvals to continue the required overall program.

This information included design documents, cost plans and tender procurement documentation formatted specifically to the satisfaction of VIS BGA.

STAGE 1 REDEVELOPMENT WORKS – NEW JUNIOR SCHOOL

BUILDING DESIGN CONSTRUCTION

As indicated already, the new Junior (primary P-6) School is located on the western side of the site, adjacent to the existing school oval. The facility reflects the overall masterplan and the agreed final location.

The new building is across two levels and works neatly into the existing campus site levels. As mentioned, the levels across the site in a north/south direction vary considerably and this new building will accommodate those differences.

The lower ground floor (569m2) will allow access off the southern approaches whilst the upper floor (633m2) will have its main entry entering from grade levels matching the existing surrounding area.

The facility will incorporate spaces, across both floors, for: General purpose teaching / Specialist activities / Breakout activities / Outdoor learning / Meeting rooms & storerooms / Canteen / café and student / staff amenities

The building houses the existing Junior School cohort with room to expand if the student population was to increase. The lower years will be housed in the ground floor with access connection for parents of younger students especially for those in Prep.

The later years (3-6) will be housed in the upper floor with access available from and to the other facilities on campus, particularly those secondary school specialist spaces to available for all students.

Both floors will be adequately serviced by the required amenities as well as having generous circulation spaces that double as break-out spaces connected to each general learning area. The lower ground floor rooms will all have direct access to outdoor learning areas on grade, whilst most of the upper floor rooms will have access to smaller outdoor learning areas within courtyard spaces.

The main entry at lower ground floor level is through a generous undercroft space that provides a gathering space for both students and staff as well as the wider school community. It will be added to with an indoor / outdoor café space doubling as the campus canteen.

Stage 1 building work was successfully delivered using a traditional lump sum building contract. The project was administered by CO.OP being the superintendent supporting the school in their role as project principal.

A tender process was procured in selecting builders of similar size and experience of which CO.OP were aware of and had even worked with on other school projects. Final tender prices were within budget after finalizing which tender options would be adopted for the final scope of works.

The start date for construction was set for late December 2019 with the intention of having the new facility ready for the 2021 school year. Things were made difficult due to the nationwide outbreak of Covid 19 however state government intervention enabled the building works to continue despite the restriction of access to the site.

Stage 1 was an excellent outcome and has received positive feedback and admiration even from those outside the school community. It certainly was a great entrée to the proposed and future redevelopment works and underscored a satisfactory progression to the school’s ‘New Beginnings’

Stage 1 - second storey courtyard space

Stage 1 - central student break-out space

Stage 1 - central student break-out space

Stage 1 - undercroft and outdoor breakout space

Maranatha Christian School

Endeavour Hills, VIC

STAGE 2 REDEVELOPMENT WORKS – NEW SENIOR SCHOOL

BUILDING DESIGN

The new senior (secondary 10-12) school is located on the northern edge of the site and as per Stage 1 - the facility reflects the intentions of the overall masterplan. This project came on sooner than expected due to a period of extended funding offers from the state government via the Victorian Independent Schools Block Grant Authority.

Similar to the primary school the new building is over two levels to maximize floor area across a site that is challenged for available space. The lower and upper ground floor (670m2) will allow access off the southern approaches and the plaza space to the north. First floor (636m2) surrounds a void space over the tiered seating and has views across the entire campus and beyond. This area also provides travel to the first floor with an interim level accessing the north facing plaza area.

Other areas utilized for breakout spaces include staff work rooms, student common room and quiet study spaces and a large multi-purpose space for a host of different functions. Amenities and lockers are all located on ground floor.

The building structure is similar to the primary school with feature brickwork being again a highlight. The palette of colours is aligned with Stage 1 and is in keeping with elements of that elsewhere on the site.

CONSTRUCTION

The building work was again successfully delivered using a traditional lump sum building contract, as per stage 1, and was administered by CO.OP with the school taking on the role of superintendent.

A similar tender process was procured for stage 2 with builders of similar size and experience invited to submit their tenders. Due to the volatile nature of the building industry at the time tender prices came in over budget. Some value managing was necessary to get the final contract price reduced to a level the school was satisfied with and ultimately, they decided to award the contract to the same builder as stage 1.

2Construct was the preferred contractor as a result of the previous very good building outcome particularly navigating the works through Covid.

Stage 2 construction commenced in December 2021 with again the intention of having the new building ready for occupation at the commencement of the 2023 school year – pleasingly this was achieved.

Stage 2 was another successful result and was warmly received by students, staff and the wider school community. It gratifyingly maintained a level of campus redevelopment that again emphasized the school’s ‘New Beginnings’.

STAGE 3 REDEVELOPMENT WORKS – N EW PRIMARY SCHOOL

BUILDING DESIGN MASTERPLAN REVIEW

The precursor to the third stage of redevelopment was a re-examination of the masterplan. This was seen as a necessary exercise as the school had experienced, over a short period, significant growth in student numbers - both in the classroom and projected.

For the school’s administration this suggested a reassessment of proposed projects from the previous masterplan and the consideration of some new options. The revised masterplan revealed the need to support both short and long-term capacity increases in the Junior School.

This resulted, amongst other things as previously indicated, to procure additional classroom spaces for the junior school and to be located on the western portion of the campus.

This new building is a single level of approx. 700m2 and accommodates 6 no. generously-sized classrooms, breakout spaces and a large locker bay. It contains amenities for both students and staff as well as a staff work and meeting space

The building structure is similar to the other two new buildings with a strong connection between all three with feature brickwork. Internally, the materials will be suitable for teaching and learning spaces with a combination of carpet and sheet vinyl to the floors, painted plasterboard to the walls and acoustic tiled ceilings.

CONSTRUCTION

The tender process for Stage 3 works is currently underway, with a builder expected to be appointed soon. This will again be delivered using a traditional lump sum building contract, with CO.OP as the project superintendent.

The new facility will be ready for occupation for the start of the 2025 school year, to accommodation the ever increasing student population at Maranatha, particularly in the junior and middle school cohorts.

Maranatha Christian School’s journey over the last seven years has been quite remarkable with significant improvement to their facilities across the campus for both primary and secondary cohorts.

The new buildings underscore the school’s desire to support their teaching and learning with state-of-the-art facilities and importantly holding true to the framework articulated in the masterplan.

CO.OP is pleased to have been part of the journey so far and proud of our ability to support the school with their vision with new facilities reflecting outstanding design through collaboration.

The school is looking forward to ongoing development and to continue the vision of New Beginnings

Stage 2 - internal study space

Stage 2 - central learning staircase

Stage 3 - exterior view impression