Bunbury Senior High School WA Recovery Project, Bunbury, WA

The Bunbury Senior High School WA Recovery Project took place under the Western Australian Government Department of Finance’s WA School Recovery Program. It aimed to modernise and upgrade schools across the state to improve the learning experience for students.

The project involved demolition, refurbishment and new design works to the school’s existing gymnasium, changerooms, sports stores and entrance foyer with outcomes including:

• Music classroom
• Sports store
• Physical education staff office
• Fitness centre
• Health and physical education classroom
• Student and staff toilets
• Lift
• New stairs and high-level walkway/ramp.

NDY delivered electrical services which included infrastructure, general power, specialist power and energy efficient lighting, lighting control, public address and intruder alarm system design. Our team also delivered a new passenger lift.

We worked closely with the wider design team to ensure operational costs were minimised and sustainability ambitions realised using the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) Green Star rating tool to enhance the school’s acoustics. For example, optimum internal noise levels (in accordance with the AS2107) ensure that the new music classroom is not affected by its location next to the gymnasium.

A collaborative acoustics and mechanical services design minimises noise impact from supplementary air conditioning units to the sensitive spaces. Our acoustics team implemented upgrades to the existing wall adjoining the gym, specifically to future proof the digital music room and ensure minimal disruption to students once operational. Finishes such as feature absorptive ceilings and wall panels were selected to ensure A2107 reverberation time requirements were met.

The challenges of managing project delivery timeframes and budgetary constraints in a live school environment were overcome through tactics such as cost checks at each milestone or deliverable and sequencing of construction works. This ensured the project was completed safely, on time and within budget.