Last October, Rochester Primary School was hit by a major flood that affected the entire site, with water levels ranging from 300mm to 500mm deep. As a result, students and teachers had to temporarily relocate to different locations, including a series of portables buildings located at the back of the school oval.
In April of this year, Programmed completed a comprehensive upgrade and fit-out of a 2,000 sqm school in just three months instead of the planned July 2023 delivery. The upgrade involved removing contents, walls, flooring, electrical wiring, heating, and cooling systems in each building, leaving only the bare frame internally. Outdoor spaces were also remediated.
After 6-8 weeks of mould remediation and drying, we could finally begin the reinstatement process. We upgraded internal construction, fittings, and fixtures, made several layout changes, and upgraded the fixtures to meet Victorian Schools Building Authority Quality Standards. This means that we were able to bring a school that was over 20 years old up to modern school building standards.
Moving day was a true team effort! Teachers received a helping hand with cleaning up and moving furniture, which made a huge difference in getting the school looking ‘like new’. And we didn’t stop there, we also helped them prepare for moving back into their refurbished buildings once the work was complete. It was a rewarding experience to see everyone come together and make a positive impact on the community.
Programmed successfully engaged our building partner, Boongalla, and managed to return 95% of the learning space to the school by Day 1 of Term 2. This was an impressive achievement that required the support of everyone involved. We would like to extend a special thanks to our Senior Project Manager at VSBA, Adam Cullinger, for his excellent project management skills and to Boongalla for their hard work and dedication.
At Programmed, we understand the importance of education and the role that a well-designed and upgraded school facility can play in enhancing the learning experience. That’s why we not only completed the make-safe and construction-based reinstatement works but also helped the school become operational in their temporary facilities. We are proud to have played a part in making that a reality for this school. Together, we can continue to create positive change and build a brighter future for our communities.
