Birrong Boys and Girls HS

MBM Project Lead

Selma Trepanic

Client Name

School Infrastructure NSW

Sector

Education

Timeline

2022 - 2025

Project Value

$ 95m

MBM Project Team

  • David Madden
  • Selma Trepanic
  • Sophie Chen

Services Provided

The Birrong Boys and Girls High Schools project involved major upgrades to both campuses to deliver modern, inclusive learning environments tailored to the needs of the local community. At Birrong Boys High School, the works include demolition of Blocks J and K, services upgrades, and construction of a new three-storey teaching facility. The existing hall was refurbished and extended with a new COLA, while Blocks A and D were repurposed as a Student Support Unit (SSU). The project also included landscaping and site-wide infrastructure improvements.
At Birrong Girls High School, the scope includes demolition of Block A, infrastructure upgrades with a new substation, and construction of a new three-storey teaching facility, hall, and COLA. Existing Blocks B and H ere refurbished. Both schools have gained new general and specialist learning areas such as science, food technology, materials and visual arts spaces, as well as upgraded administration, staff areas, and improved outdoor environments to support flexible, 21st-century education.

Project Background and Scope

  • Live School Environment: Major demolition, construction, and refurbishment works must be carried out while schools remain operational, requiring careful staging and safety planning.
  • Tight Program & Staging: Coordinating works across two campuses, with multiple buildings and phases, creates scheduling complexity and increases risk of delays.
  • Service Disruptions: Upgrades to existing infrastructure and new service installations (e.g. substation) challenged ongoing school activities.
  • Design Integration: Ensuring new and refurbished facilities meet educational standards while integrating with existing structures.
  • Site Constraints: Limited space for construction activities and materials handling, particularly in built-up school environments.

Project Challenges

  • Staged Construction Approach: Works planned in stages to minimise disruption to teaching, with high-risk activities scheduled outside school hours or during holidays.
  • Early Planning & Coordination: Close collaboration with school leadership, consultants, and contractors from early phases to ensure alignment of program, safety, and access.
  • Temporary Facilities: Use of temporary classrooms or decanting strategies to maintain uninterrupted learning during construction.
  • Robust Services Planning: Detailed planning of infrastructure upgrades, including new substation, to ensure minimal downtime and smooth integration.
  • Design Flexibility: Adaptive design solutions that respond to site limitations while meeting future-focused learning and accessibility needs.