Porirua College Redevelopment Stage 2 - Education

Client:          Porirua College Board of Trustees

Project Brief

The design supports a 21st Century Learning Model, focusing on an interactive, open-style, student-focused learning environment.
The facilities were built around the concept of a series of ‘Houses’. Each House incorporates learning studios, a multi-purpose co-curricular studio, seminar rooms, outdoor learning spaces and a large internal group learning and presentation space.

The impressive ‘kite’ roof form provides a dynamic and iconic symbol for the new Porirua College.

The houses have a slab foundation base with a timber and steel structure. An LVL bow string truss runs through the axis of each house. The buildings are clad in Hardies Exo Tec façade panel and Alucobond, and the roof is Coloursteel.

The group learning area in the heart of each house is double height with high level windows providing natural light. The concrete slab is lowered in this space but has a proprietary raised plenum floor creating a floor level to match the outer spaces and forming a cavity for services.

The building services include sprinklers, mechanical air supply, fibre-optics and a full security system.

In addition to building the new houses, Mainzeal has also upgraded the school’s central services and has re-roofed the gymnasium.