Fredwick Irwin Anglican School – Sports Hall & Car Park

Scope of Works

Shelford Constructions delivered the multi-stage construction of the new Sports Hall, teaching spaces, car park and associated infrastructure at Frederick Irwin Anglican School.

The scope incorporated:

• Ground-level Sports Hall and gymnasium
• Changerooms and amenities
• Staff facilities
• Sports and equipment storage
• Upper-level exercise and weights room
• Two new classrooms
• Lower undercroft
• Maintenance facility
• Cricket nets
• Covered pedestrian link
• Planter seating
• Stairs and pathways
• Retaining walls
• 34-bay bitumen car park
• Trafficable concrete hardstand
• Associated external and civil works

Key Features

Sports & Learning Facilities

The Sports Hall combines a large gymnasium with supporting changerooms, storage and staff facilities, complemented by an upper-level exercise and weights room.

Two additional classrooms provide new teaching spaces within the development, incorporating functional cabinetry and natural light.

Architectural Finishes

The building incorporates a distinctive combination of materials and architectural detailing, including:

• Blue Chip Ultracore aluminium cladding
• Contrasting red accents
• Colorbond cladding to the classroom block
• Equitone façade cladding
• CNC-machined sporting silhouettes
• Exposed structural-steel portals
• Acoustic panels
• Timber-look flooring
• Track lighting
• Extensive glazing

Designed for a High-Activity Environment

The Sports Hall incorporates a combination of mechanical and natural ventilation systems designed around the different uses within the facility.

Large-diameter Big Ass Fans support air circulation within the sports environment, while electrically operated Breezeway louvres provide cross-flow ventilation.

Ducted fan coil units provide additional mechanical conditioning, while the maintenance workshop incorporates evaporative units and a dedicated welding exhaust system appropriate to its operational requirements.

Large glazed areas throughout the development also maximise access to natural light.

Integrated Audio Visual Systems

The new facility incorporates audio-visual infrastructure supporting sporting, teaching and broader school activities.

Systems include:

• Large modular television screens
• Digital displays
• Public address system
• Amplifiers
• Suspended speakers

Improving Campus Infrastructure

The project extended beyond construction of the Sports Hall itself and included substantial supporting external works.

A new 34-bay bitumen car park and trafficable concrete hardstand were constructed within the former playing court area, together with new retaining walls.

Pedestrian pathways, stairs, planter seating and a covered link integrate the new development with the existing campus, providing weather-protected movement between facilities.

Cricket nets were also incorporated into the broader sporting works.

Construction Challenges

Delivering Within a Live School Environment

Construction was undertaken within an operating school campus, requiring careful management of pedestrian movements, vehicle access and construction activities.

Exclusion zones, pedestrian and traffic management, safety walks and Working With Children requirements were incorporated into project delivery to maintain separation between construction works, students and staff.

Deliveries and work activities were also carefully scheduled due to the site's location within a residential and high-traffic environment, helping minimise disruption to both the school and surrounding community.

Complex Construction Sequencing

The multi-stage project required careful coordination of concrete works, structural steel and subsequent façade installation.

Interfaces between brickwork, structural steel, Colorbond, Ultracore and Equitone cladding required detailed coordination between the construction team, trades and architect to achieve the intended architectural finishes.

Industry Supply Constraints

Delivery occurred during the latter stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when labour availability continued to affect parts of the construction industry.

Formwork and structural-steel rigging were among the areas requiring additional programme management and coordination as the project progressed.