Project overview

JCA were engaged by the Department of Education Training (DET) to undertake the role of Principal Consultant responsible for the appointment and management of the sub-consultants necessary to provide Masterplanning and the completion of design / documentation through to the end of Design Development phase (only) suitable for the calling of competitive tenders under a Design and Construct procurement methodology - the project was for a new school located outside of Toowoomba in the burgeoning suburb of Highfields.

The main scope of works comprised a total of 16 new buildings. With JCA’s role ending at the completion of the D+C tender documentation, it was important to the Department that all key decisions that would influence the final outcome were made only to ensure a quality and holistic series of buildings would be delivered by the contractor. The project was subsequently awarded to FKG for the D+C phase of the project with the final documentation being completed by the contractor’s project team. The site situated in a bushland setting adjacent future residential developments presented several difficulties - notably how best to address vehicle access for drop-off and pickup in addition to significant overland flow paths across the site. Whilst the gradient was relatively level, the expanse of the site saw a number of falls that would influence internal circulation and pedestrian networks.

On completion of the building, DETE conducted an independent review of the facilities and rated it as an exemplar for future school designs.