New Facilities
Our New Facilities – Under Construction
Sophia Mundi Senior School is joining the Primary School at the beautiful Abbotsford Convent. The senior years and prep are moving from their former home at the old St Joseph’s Technical School in Nicholson Street, Abbotsford to new buildings. We expect the move to be completed by July 2012.
In December 2011, we obtained a permit from Heritage Victoria and the Planning Minister to construct a new classroom building in what was the courtyard at St Mary’s and to develop a new space on the site of the disused swimming pool.
The plan view to the right shows the outline of the locations for the classrooms and the new playground.
The playground, existing courts and a walkway between the surrounding farmland and the Abbotsford Convent will be open to the public outside of school hours.
We also have approval to construct new science laboratories for chemistry, physics and biology. These will be located in the Mercator "Annex" and will see a refurbishment and completely new fit-out of this building.
New Facilities - Project Details
A two-part project is now underway:
- A new, light footprint, single storey building to accommodate four classrooms within the current boundary fence line of the school; and
- A playground with community meeting space; adjacent to the current mod-grass tennis and basketball courts on the site of the disused swimming pool.
The work is funded under the Commonwealth’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) scheme and through contributions from the School’s community.
The project will create a playground, basketball courts and community meeting space; all of which will be available for community enjoyment outside school hours. The Nuns’ Walk, the historical walk linking the Convent and the surrounding farmland, will also be open for community enjoyment outside of school hours. Permanent interpretative signage will be posted to inform the public of the swimming pool and its significance.
The school is working with the Abbotsford Convent and the Collingwood Children’s Farm to minimise the impact of the site works.
Construction Programme
Permission to construct the new facilities was granted in December 2011. The approximate overall schedule is as follows:
- January 2012: Site preparation: start filling of the swimming pool, clearing of blackberries, de-construction of the existing sandpit and removal of the climbing frame from the new classrooms site. Fencing off the new classrooms area to ensure safety during construction. Fencing off the new Prep garden area to prepare for sandpits, planting etc.
- February 2012: Completion of new sandpit in the courtyard. Preparation of access to the swimming pool area. Construction of foundation in swimming pool. Completion of filling of swimming pool, compaction. Begin construction of new climbing frame parts. Begin Prep garden construction.
- March 2012: Foundation / screw piles for new building. Complete access to the swimming pool playground area. Prep garden sandpit. Prep garden gates. Complete reconstruction of climbing frame.
- April 2012: Prep garden planting complete, sandpit and swing. Building underway. Climbing frame accessible by students. Construction of the new community area on the swimming pool. Planting in the swimming pool area. Fencing of the swimming pool area.
- May 2012: Classroom building – roof, lock-up. Begin fit out and finishing.
- June 2012: Classroom building: Finish internal fitout and finishing. Completion of the new community area and playground.
- July 2012: Move all gear from Nicholson St ready for 3rd term!
Support Needed
Please take time to review the display of the plans in the foyer at school. We NEED YOUR SUPPORT in another way too. As well as raising funds for the school's contribution to the construction costs for the Science Wing, we are also looking for donations of goods and services in kind. Recent examples of donations include insulation, draft proofing materials and a design review to minimise energy use. Please contact Robin Power with any questions or to make donation arrangements on 0404 114 751.
New Facilities Photographic History
The photos below show part of the journey during 2012 – the construction of our new classrooms, playground and laboratories.
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