Spring Hill Corrections Facility - Infrastructure / Civil
Client: Department of Corrections
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The construction of the new Spring Hill Corrections Facility in the Waikato highlights a new approach to prison design – it is also a model for collaborative working agreements.
For Mainzeal, the main contractor, it was always going to be a challenge to complete a $250m prison in just 25 months. But the Spring Hill project provided an opportunity to fine-tune a collaborative working agreement (CWA), first trialled during the construction of a similar facility in Northland.
The CWA for this contract was an alliance between 26 companies, with principals Mainzeal, the design team from Stephenson & Turner, Works Infrastructure and the Department of Corrections.
The project management team worked out of a single office at Mt Wellington, and even on site, workers were united as a single work force. This increased efficiency, improved safety statistics and resulted in considerable time-saving measures.
The construction was aided by the fact that the prison is spread over 26ha. Unlike a high-rise project, which is quite sequential, the building construction and site works were able to run concurrently – with careful planning.
With no existing infrastructure in place, initially a major investment was needed to construct roads, and connect power supply and reticulation, sewerage, telephones, potable water, gas supply and data services to the area.
Key statistics:
2.5million man hours
4000 staff
1.5million m3 of bulk earthworks
375,000 m3 of detailed earthworks
18,000 m3 of concrete delivered to site
9000 separate precast panels
1.7km-long 6m-high perimeter wall
75km inground services
Project Data:
Location:
Waikato
Client:
Department of Corrections
The SHCF design is consistent with modern international models, and is significantly different from traditional prisons. The design incorporates features that are intended to be the most effective in terms of safety, security and rehabilitation.
The prison is basically a series of buildings within a large, secure perimeter. Six accommodation buildings, each housing 88 prisoners, are clustered around centrally located services, such as kitchens, industry areas and programme rooms. At the north end of the site, self-care units, each housing four prisoners, provide a flatting-type arrangement that helps prepare them for life in the community.
There is also a separate youth facility. A recreational area is positioned in the centre of the site, along with service facilities, training and visit buildings, including two cultural centres – the Whare Hui and Pacific Islands Fale.