Ruyton Girls’ School

Built by McCorkell Constructions, these additions and renovations to the McRae Building at Ruyton Girls’ School, in the Melbourne suburb of Kew, were designed by Woods Bagot. The project was the winner of the 2017 Master Builders Excellence in Construction Award in the Commercial Building $10-15 million category.

by Madeleine Swain

A view from the build with Howard McCorkell, construction director

Better Building: What did the project entail?

Howard McCorkell: The McRae Building at Ruyton Girls’ School is a state-of-the-art, multi-use facility, consisting of a basement auditorium with catering facilities and performance studios and three upper levels of general classrooms, common spaces, staff rooms and science laboratories.

Can you elaborate on the most notable elements, particularly the arresting façade?

Externally, the curtain wall glass façade, feature steel windows, sculptured timber and stone cladding systems were completed as a design and construct component, with our site team taking a lead role in the coordination of the façade development.

And what about inside the building?

Internally, the combination of black butt veneer, solid timber lining, bespoke joinery and intricate architectural detail have been complete to the highest standard.

What was your experience of this particular project?

This is a jewellery box of a building, with layer upon layer of complexity. We were delighted with the opportunity to work with such a wonderful school as Ruyton and with the likes of Woods Bagot Architects and Accuraco Project Managers.

What was your personal response to winning the award?

The National Master Builders award recognises our uncompromising attention to detail and our great passion for educational building projects.

What does winning the award mean for McCorkell Constructions as a company?

It is a fantastic launching pad into 2018 – our 90^th year of operation.

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Better Building conducts an informal post-occupancy evaluation with Leanne Smith, business manager, Ruyton Girls’ School, to find out what it’s like to actually use this award-winning building.

Better Building: What were the top elements that were most important for the school to have integrated into the design?

Leanne Smith: Flexible learning, formal and informal learning spaces, girl centred, integrated technology, collaboration, a feminine building in the heart of the school, which would sit well in its environment.

During construction, how easy was it for the school to continue its daily business and how long did the construction process take?

The construction site was in the middle of the school so it did pose some logistical issues. The main traffic corridors were narrowed considerably and staff and students learned to take alternative routes during the project. We found that communication was key during this time, particularly when large deliveries or particularly noisy construction was occurring. The whole community were very patient during this time and, in spite of the size and position of the construction, we had very few issues or complaints. The school community and the construction company worked well together to manage the impact of the noise. The process took approximately 18 months.

Now that the project is finished, how well does it respond to those top elements, individually?

The project has provided staff and students with a learning environment that strongly supports both flexible learning opportunities and collaboration. This is noticeable in student engagement and through feedback. Students are also seeking out the informal learning spaces during break times and free lessons, while staff are using these spaces with classes or small groups during class time. The building has a distinctly feminine feel to it. With curved lines and a sense of flow, the girls feel very much at home and parents and old scholars are extremely impressed. The access to technology, with features such as two screens in each learning area, is well utilised. We extended the project to include full landscaping of the courtyard in which the building sits (Hiscock Court). As a result, the building looks beautiful in its environment and sits proudly with the other buildings facing the courtyard.

How is the building being used on a day-to-day basis?

The building houses Year 7 and 8 students and all science classes. Currently the Junior School music lessons are being held in the Drama rooms while we wait for our Junior School building to be completed. The Events space is used by classes, year levels, sub schools, parents, old scholars, board and community events. It is truly a flexible and well-used area.

Are there any unexpected or surprising elements that have become apparent through daily use?

The building includes a stage in Hiscock Court. The girls love this space and use it frequently for informal productions or just to sit and enjoy the sunshine. The building also includes wide windowsills, which the girls love to use as seats during informal learning.

What has been the reaction from the various stakeholders in the school body – the principal, other staff members, pupils, parents?

There has been an extremely positive response from all sections of the School community.

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Client: Ruyton Girls’ School

Location: Kew, Melbourne

Builder: McCorkell Constructions

Architect: Woods Bagot

Area: 3000 square metres, four levels

Completion date: December 2015

Photography: Peter Bennetts (completed project), Woods Bagot (construction)

Collaborative partners: project manager – Accuraco, service engineer – Murchie Consulting, structural and civil engineer – 4D Workshop and MA Design, building surveyor – Kinban Building Consultants, quantity surveyor – Wilde and Woolard, acoustic consultant – Marshall Day, façade consultant – Inhabit, DDA – Architecture and Access, landscape architect – Woods Bagot