Arahoe School

Arahoe Primary School, located on the New Lynn/Titirangi border, has seen considerable growth since the commencement of “Tomorrows Schools”. We have provided consultant services to the school for all the Ministry of Education projects along with the projects instigated by the Board of Trustees. The consequence of this long term, professional association with the school has been the co-ordinated design and development of the school through the many construction projects undertaken to date.

These projects include

• Classroom upgrades
• New relocatable two-classroom block for the junior school
• New school hall and carpark
• Extension to library
• Conversion of existing mini hall into two classrooms
• New four-classroom block and playground
• Administration upgrade
• New permanent classroom and lobby for the junior school
• Info-tech centre extension to the library – design stage

In 1998 with the increasing use of computer technology, the Arahoe Primary School Board of Trustees embarked upon creating an Info-tech Centre associated with the existing school library.

This new building which is a major addition to the existing library building is linked to the adjacent permanent classroom block providing all weather access. In keeping with its environment the new building maintains the simple forms of construction in common with previous developments at the school. It has been lined to the exterior with natural coloured zincalume, a material that has been used at the school on other specialist buildings. It has as a distinctive element, a large raking wall which forms the connection between the Info-tech Centre and the new passage link to the existing classrooms. This wall has been painted a strong yellow.

As this building is located centrally in the school complex of buildings it forms an important visual and educational link for the students.

Our most recent project involved the complete refurbishment/rebuild of the original classroom block at the school. This project started with the re-fenestration of the elevation facing the playground with new high performance double-glazing, entrances, and cladding. We also  replaced the roofing to create clerestories to the rear of the building to aid natural ventilation. The interior, including the original toilet areas have been opened up to create a connected series of learning spaces with appropriate break-out spaces. The toilets have been rationalized and we now have a centralized uni-sex toilet area for the block.

We have worked closely with the school to create a modern learning environment which will allow the building to function for another 40 years.