Frederick Irwin Anglican School – Administration & Classroom Expansion

Scope of Works

Shelford Constructions delivered the expansion of Frederick Irwin Anglican School's Halls Head campus, incorporating new administration, classroom and external facilities.

The works included:

• Single-storey administration building
• Reception area
• Offices
• Staff facilities
• Four new classrooms
• Staff and student amenities
• Classroom breakout spaces
• Custom joinery
• External pathways
• Nature playscape
• Shade structure
• Associated external works

Key Features

Administration & Learning Spaces

The new administration building provides contemporary reception, office and staff spaces supporting the day-to-day operation of the school.

Four new classrooms provide additional teaching capacity, incorporating flexible layouts, breakout spaces and custom joinery.

Glazed internal partitions and strategically positioned windows maximise natural light and create visual connections throughout the new facilities.

Architectural Finishes

The development incorporates a contemporary material palette designed to complement the existing campus, including:

• Red face brickwork
• Steel finishes
• Feature timber cladding
• Timber-clad gable
• Timber rafters
• Illuminated signage
• Acoustic-rated metal strip ceilings
• Timber-look flooring
• Linear HVAC diffusers
• Feature track lighting
• Custom joinery

Connecting Learning With the Outdoors

External areas were designed to complement the new teaching and administration facilities while creating additional spaces for students.

A nature playscape incorporating logs and recycled materials provides an outdoor activity environment, supported by a UV-resistant shade sail.

Light-coloured exposed aggregate pathways connect the new facilities with the broader campus, while timber elements and landscaping contribute to the natural character of the development.

Creating Open, Welcoming Spaces

Natural light was an important component of the new administration and classroom environments.

Strategically positioned external windows and glazed internal partitions allow daylight to penetrate the spaces while creating a greater sense of openness and connection between different areas of the facility.

Acoustic-rated ceiling treatments, linear HVAC diffusers, custom joinery and breakout spaces further support the functional requirements of the new learning environments.

Construction Challenges

Delivering Within a Live School Environment

Construction was undertaken while the existing school remained operational, requiring careful planning to maintain safe separation between construction activities, students and staff.

Pedestrian management, traffic exclusion zones and emergency access planning formed part of the construction methodology, allowing school activities to continue while the new facilities were delivered.

Child Safety & Site Management

Additional controls were implemented in response to the live education environment.

Project personnel were required to satisfy Working With Children requirements, supported by site safety walks, egress-point checks and extended exclusion zones where required.

These measures helped maintain clearly controlled boundaries between the construction site and operational school areas.

Restricted Access & Logistics

The school's location within a residential and high-traffic area created additional constraints around deliveries and construction access.

Deliveries and construction activities were coordinated around school drop-off and pick-up periods where required, helping minimise disruption to students, families and the surrounding community.

Despite these constraints, the project was successfully delivered on time.