The Duigan Centre Update 1
Community update from our builders
Project description
The building is a collaboration between the School, St Andrews Parish and the Archdiocese of Melbourne which involves a new Centre for Science, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (the Duigan Centre). The project is located on Church and School land stretching along St Andrews Street.
This is Stage 1 of Brighton Grammar School’s Master Plan to upgrade its facilities. Brighton Grammar is a learning community passionate about developing, inspiring and guiding students on their journey into adulthood.
BGS’s vision for the project is to provide ‘cutting-edge’ learning spaces for science, creativity and entrepreneurship. There is a desire to transform the resource-intensive learning spaces at the school into a wondrous ‘high-tech’ playground that can excite the imagination and offer students support for deep learning that is framed by a ‘design thinking’ approach to teaching and learning.
Project overview
The project aspires to reinforce already strong relationships between St Andrew’s Parish and the BGS community, whilst acknowledging current patterns of use and physical adjacencies to the existing Cemetery and Memorial Garden. The Duigan Centre will strengthen all ties to the site and locality and enable new ways for boys to experience science, creativity and entrepreneurship. Relocation of the Parish tennis courts to the rooftop of the new building will allow the important function of St Andrew’s Parish to expand.
Key objectives
- allow the important function of St Andrew’s Parish to expand through the relocation of the Parish tennis courts
- provide enhanced learning environments and teaching space by providing a contemporary connection between social and physical environments
- enable new ways for boys to experience creative arts, science, design and technology that fulfil Brighton Grammar School’s key design principles
- create learning spaces that connect students and teachers with environments that are designed to support varied practices, activities and behaviours
- complete the project in accordance with the approved construction timeline
- to allow the important function of the St Andrews Parish to expand through the relocation of the Parish tennis courts.
- deliver the project with minimal disruption to neighbours.
Project scope
A new building to accommodate the redevelopment of Brighton Grammar School to create a new Centre for Science, Creativity and Entrepreneurship which includes:
- demolition of the current BGS atrium and science classrooms
- learning hub inclusive of but not limited to learning areas to house science, robotics, product design, creative arts and informal spaces for educational programs
- secure single-level basement car park for BGS and the Church community
- new reception area (Welcoming Centre) for the Church and Parish community
- new Parish Administration area
- relocation and upgrade of the Parish tennis courts and club rooms on rooftop of new building
- new electrical substation
Our team
Project Director – Peter Bell
Peter has many years in the construction industry with over 10 + years specialising in the design, management, and delivery of both public and private schools around Melbourne.
Project Manager – Laura Foley
Laura has an architectural background and a passion to deliver high-end architectural buildings. She has project-managed many jobs with her highlight being Sandringham Primary School.
Site Managers – Daniel Byrne and Matt Evans
Matt and Daniel have been in the industry for many years, delivering commercial, industrial and educational facilities. They were both integral in the delivery of the new Clendon Centre at Loreto Toorak.
Matt was also the Site Manager on the Brighton Grammar School G.B. Robertson Hall redevelopment project.
Senior Site Manager – Corey Fahnle
Corey is one of Vaughan Constructions’ most experienced and well-versed Site Managers. He recently completed a high-end apartment development in Brighton.
Contract Administrator – Alisha Galea
Alisha worked on the delivery of Loreto Toorak’s Clendon Centre alongside Peter Bell, navigating her way through a fast-paced private school project.
Contract Administrator – Lachlan Vaughan
Lachlan Vaughan is very excited to start his first construction job with the team working on a school that is 10 minutes from where he lives.
The Duigan Centre construction timeline
Project milestones
Updating you on our progress
Vaughan Constructions have commenced site establishment with the setting up of the site amenities and protection of the existing buildings that will remain and surrounding trees. Isolation of services and internal strip out of the old science building is well underway with works progressing steadily in anticipation of the completion of the 2022 school year, ready for demolition of the old library to commence.
Project status
What you can expect to see over next 1-2 months
- Completion of hoardings and site establishment
- Delivery of machinery and materials
- Demolition of existing school buildings and tennis court facilities and fencing
- Installation of footpath protection gantry and set up of loading bay zones
- Service investigation and isolations throughout existing and new building
- Earthworks and Retention system commencement including concrete trucks and the pouring of concrete.