WHILE builders, landscapers, numerous other tradespeople and removalists were frantically putting the finishing touches to Newhaven College’s $3.8 million administration and library last week, planning has already started on the new $8 million senior campus, due to start 2016.
The sale of the original Newhaven College site at Boys Home Road at Newhaven on Phillip Island has allowed planning works to begin and will part fund the new senior school.
Newhaven board chairman Greg Price said a developer had purchased the site but has not disclosed any plans for the land.
Mr Price said, “We will be demolishing the buildings and will be looking at taking quite a lot of fittings , equipment and maybe the gym building.”
Construction on the new senior campus will start next year and the first senior students moving in to start the 2017 school year.
Talking to The Star on Wednesday Newhaven College principal Gea Lovell said it is all very exciting as the college has employed a new architect firm, Hayball Architects for the design of the new senior school.
The award winning Melbourne firm has designed for many schools in Melbourne including Caulifield, Ivanhoe, Yarra Valley, Carey, Camberwell Girls Grammar schools, a number of primary schools and for Monash University.
Mrs Lovell said the Senior School to accommodate Years 10 to 12 students will be “awesome-very different, and just amazing.”
“Yes it will be mind-blowing,” she said.
“It will incorporate three science laboratories; three creative arts design rooms and all the latest 21st century technology.”
It is indeed exciting times ahead for Newhaven College that has seen massive development in recent years with a new middle school, $3.2 million Trades Skill Centre and now the school’s flagship administration and library facility set to open on Monday, July 13 for the start of term three.
Commanding a prime position on the college’s 82 acre site on the Phillip Island Road this administration and library building will serve as the main school entrance and accommodate reception with an administration area, registrar and marketing offices, an office for college business manager David Butt, close by is the uniform shop and state of the art staff common room complete with two dishwashers, two microwaves, two fridges and two hot water units.
Also incorporated in this building is a board room with kitchen for use by the 10 board members which may later be available for use by the local community for meetings.
Completing the facility are impressive offices for Newhaven College principal Gea Lovell and vice principal Jason Scott and the showpiece massive library.
The library definitely has the wow factor and will provide a new 21st century learning environment with a junior reading room and glass backed boards, two collaborative reading areas, four big screen televisions, a huge open classroom space at one end and at the other an expansive standing learning spaces equipped with plenty of access points for computer devices.
Always striving to offer world’s best practice in education Mrs Lovell said the standing desks have been proven to revolutionise the way students learn, participate, and work.
Studies have shown the standing method of learning improves concentration and promote a more active and engaged learning arena.
During the sneak preview tour Mrs Lovell couldn’t contain her excitement with the administration building so close to completion.
And there has been no holiday for Mrs Lovell, oh no this is one principal who revels in the whole building process adopting a very hands on approach and has overseen the new build, working closely with Mr Butt every step of the way from the concept plans right through to completion, even choosing the trendy new cutlery and crockery for the staff room.
Mrs Lovell said she just can’t wait to open the new facility to the school community, especially the students.
“It’s really all about the students and offering them the best education we can and I am very proud to be leaving a legacy for generations to come,” she said.
Sharing her excitement DAS Constructions managing director Dale Sartori handled the building works of the trades centre and the administration and library building.
Mr Sartori said he proud his business has been part of building state of the art learning facilities for local students.
He is also thrilled to have employed and worked with a great team of local contractors that saw on average some 35 local tradespeople employed on the new college building each day from December 2014.
While the new facility will be officially opened along with the Trade Skills Centre in September with Flinders MP Greg Hunt confirmed, doors will be flung open to the public for a special viewing Tuesday, July 14 from 2pm to 6pm.
It seems as one major project is complete the next is already to go and it is full steam ahead for Mrs Lovell as she continues to drive the development of the Phillip Island Road Campus and is committed to ensuring a strong future for Newhaven College as a leading educational provider in the region and beyond.
Secure and safe: Gavin Lewis of Bass Coast Locksmiths handed over the keys to the new administration building to Newhaven College principal Gea Lovell.