Founded in 1924, Strathcona Girls Grammar School (SGG) is an independent girl’s school for students from Prep to Year 12, with a coeducational Early Learning Centre (ELC) for three and four year-old children. The site is located in a residential area, with a heritage and tree overlay. The new Early years and Community Centre was the first project within the school’s masterplan.

The new Centre is set within three existing heritage houses, that have been inter-connected and refurbished for use as an Early Learning Centre, Prep, Year 1 and multipurpose room.  The Centre provides new and improved facilities for the school’s youngest students, and also consolidates the Junior school activities whilst unlocking the Senior campus for future development in accordance with the masterplan.

Johnstaff was engaged as Project Manager by SGG post Design Development. Johnstaff managed the contract documentation, tender, negotiation and award, and construction phases of the project. Johnstaff also acted as Superintendent to the building contract.

The project posed a number of challenges that revolved around the site, as the new facility spanned four titles with two separate owners. This unusual arrangement posed challenges in relation to obtaining a building permit, and all of the necessary services infrastructure authorities. To manage this, a deed was prepared between the title owners to satisfy the Relevant Building Surveyor requirements. Johnstaff led the process to resolve all matters associated with the infrastructure authorities, with the positive outcome being that separate connections were not required for each title.

During the contract documentation phase SGG adjusted its brief, requiring changes to the internal fit out and landscape, which triggered a requirement for secondary consent for the planning permit.  Johnstaff managed this process, within the available time period, such that the project progressed to tender without delay to programme.