School Property management | Blomfield Satellite School

Blomfield Satellite School

The project included:

Strategic planning

Concept design

Change management

Client liaison - we tendered out the concept design to architectural companies

Project management through to commissioning of building.

Blomfield Special School and Resource Centre in Whangarei provides education for students aged five to 21 years who have special learning needs. The base school operates three classrooms with an adjacent transition unit for older students. Seven satellite classes operate at four host schools in Whangarei and Kaitaia. The school vision of ‘Discovering our Potential’ underpins a culture of high expectations, inclusion, extensive pastoral care and respectful relationships between the board, staff, students and families.

Early collaborative engagement

The decision to build a satellite school on the fifth host school site has allowed the project team to work closely alongside senior leaders, MOE representatives, teachers, therapists and other key stakeholders from both the base school and Oromahoe host school. Initial discussions and concept design were managed through onsite meetings at both schools. The benefits of including a wide range of key stakeholders in the early Schedule of Accommodation allowed the team to compile a Design Brief that incorporates both the specific essential infrastructure and Innovative Learning Environment needs for a special school. The building design has been approved at multiple levels as wholly functional, future proofed and fit for purpose with the ability to bridge the universal MOE guidelines around design and the additional features that need to be included for specialist schools.