The new Kambah P-10 School, re-named Namadgi School is constructed on the old Kambah High School site. The project required the demolition of the existing buildings & the construction of buildings and facilities for: Preschool & Kindergarten, Years 1 to 10; a Performing Arts, Design Technology, Visual Arts, Science Laboratories, Learning Resource Centre, Administration, Gymnasium and Canteen.
The school will accommodate 900 students and up to 120 teaching and ancillary staff.
Consisting of multiple discrete buildings, the involvement of specialist sustainable consultants in the early stages of the design was successful in ensuring the project objectives were included in the early design works, thus ensuring maximum uptake of sustainable design principles’ into the construction process.
The block is roughly square in shape, bounded by Drakeford Drive to the north-east, O’Halloran Circuit to the south-east, Kambah District playing fields to the north-west and a cycle/walkway to the south-west with the existing Urambi Primary School site beyond. Currently vehicle access to the School is gained from O’Halloran Circuit.
The site has a gentle fall across it from the north (rear) to the south (front) corners of approximately 6 metres and has an approximate total area of 74,500m2 The existing building group is located to the lower south-eastern sector of the site, with the western sector being occupied by playing field and northern area occupied by tennis, basketball and netball hard surface courts. The site includes a high number of well-established mature trees of varying species.
The Namadgi School incorporates a range of sustainability principles. During construction materials with a high recycled content were used, such as the carpets and internal wall linings. A highly insulated building envelope was used as was “green” concrete mix. Clever design allows the maximisation of natural ventilation and learning spaces are filled with natural light. A photovoltaic solar system has also been installed to supplement the school’s power supply. This will have an output of 30kW.
All buildings on the site have individual ‘Smart Meters’ linked to the Building Management System. Software will allow students and staff to view and log power and water usage. Such monitoring will enhance students’ learning when studying sustainability, energy and environment.
A 200,000 litre rainwater retention tank is on site, with water able to be used for irrigation of the grounds. Each building has a grey water system for toilet flushing.
At the completion of the demolition ninety-three percent of all materials from the former Kambah High School structure were recycled, exceeding the Green Star benchmark of eighty percent.