PROJECT

Central Auckland Specialist School

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Pete Rom

Oliver Gatehouse

central auckland specialist school

Central Auckland Specialist School is a purpose-built campus designed to support students with complex learning, physical and sensory needs. Catering to students aged five to 21 years, the school provides a highly specialised environment that promotes learning, independence and wellbeing.

TBIG joined the project during detailed design, working with the Ministry of Education and the wider consultant team to deliver one of only a small number of specialist base-build schools in New Zealand. The project required careful coordination to create spaces that respond to a diverse range of student needs while maintaining accessibility, functionality and long-term performance.

The completed campus includes five teaching blocks containing 15 specialist learning spaces, alongside an administration building, multi-purpose hall, gymnasium, kitchens and specialist learning centres. A key feature is the indoor hydrotherapy pool which supports physical therapy, recreation and sensory-based learning.

Strong connections between indoor and outdoor environments were prioritised throughout the design. Working alongside the landscape architect, the team helped create connecting outdoor spaces tailored to support student interaction, movement and exploration.

Accessibility and durability were central to the project. The fully level-access campus enables safe and easy movement across the site, while carefully selected materials provide a hardy, low-maintenance environment designed to support student learning and exploration.

This was a complex project with a really unique brief, and the TBIG team were great to work with throughout. They kept things grounded, navigated the challenges well, and stayed focused on getting the right outcome for the school.

Fiona Westerkamp - Delivery Manager, Ministry of Education

PROJECT

Hutt Valley High School - Block 3A and campus remediation

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Angus Bridge

Yasmin Merwood

Alex Doyle

Hutt Valley high School - Block 3A and campus remediation

Hutt Valley High School has been transformed through a significant campus renewal programme, combining a new specialist teaching facility with extensive upgrade and remediation works across the campus. 

The new two-storey teaching Block 3A provides dedicated spaces for music, dance, drama and hospitality education, together with breakout areas, staff facilities and student support spaces. Designed to support modern teaching practices, the facility provides flexible and purpose-built environments that will serve the school community for years to come. 

Alongside the new build project, a comprehensive weathertightness remediation programme was carried out across four existing buildings. Works included recladding, reroofing, structural strengthening, fire safety upgrades, new windows and doors, asbestos removal and internal refurbishment. Delivered over multiple stages, the programme improved the durability, safety and performance of key school assets while extending their operational life. 

Delivering both projects concurrently within a live school environment required careful planning and close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, school leadership and the wider consultant and contractor team. TBIG provided project management services throughout the programme, coordinating works to minimise disruption and ensure the school remained fully operational throughout construction. 

The programme leaves a lasting legacy for Hutt Valley High School, delivering contemporary facilities, renewed building assets and a campus equipped for the future. 

PROJECT

Wainuiomata High School

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Andrew McCalman

Angus Bridge

Inoke Fono

Wainuiomata High School

Wainuiomata High School has undergone a complete transformation, delivering a modern and future-focused campus for the community's only secondary school.

Completed over four years in a fully operational school environment, the redevelopment combined the construction of new facilities with the upgrade of existing buildings, creating 33 new and refurbished teaching spaces. The project includes modern learning spaces, a cultural and technology hub, whare kai, library, canteen, student support areas, extensive landscaping and site-wide infrastructure upgrades.

TBIG was engaged by the Ministry of Education to provide project management services from detailed design through procurement and construction delivery. Working closely with the school, whānau, consultants and contractor Naylor Love, we coordinated a complex staged programme that enabled teaching and learning to continue throughout construction.

Managing multiple student and staff relocations, maintaining stakeholder alignment and navigating the additional challenges of COVID-19 restrictions required careful planning, collaborative expertise and responsive programme management.

The completed redevelopment represents a significant investment in the future of Wainuiomata, providing flexible learning environments that support a range of teaching styles while creating a lasting asset for students, staff and the wider community. The project was delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Naylor Love, Stephenson & Turner, BCD Group Limited, Maltbys, Torque IP and Local Landscape Architecture Collective.

PROJECT

Wellington Girls’ College Turf & Covered Courts

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Andrew McCalman

Ian Summerfield

Rachel Pattison

Wellington Girls’ College Turf & Covered courts

TBIG delivered a new all-weather turf canopy for Wellington Girls’ College as part of the school’s long-term campus redevelopment programme. The project supports roll growth, enhances physical education facilities, and provides a flexible, year-round sports space without reliance on offsite venues. 

Working with the Ministry of Education, TBIG has supported Wellington Girls’ College across multiple stages of development, including demolition works, seismic strengthening, and the delivery of the enclosed turf canopy. Further phases of the school’s growth plan are now underway. 

The canopy was designed as a cost-effective alternative to a traditional school gymnasium, upgrading outdoor court space while providing shelter from Wellington’s weather conditions. The fully enclosed structure features transparent walls, integrated wind protection, and an eight-meter-high central span, allowing the entire school to safely use the facility. 

Appointed as Project Managers, Engineer to the Contract, and seconded Delivery Managers, TBIG oversaw all stages of delivery, from technical coordination through to construction completion. The project required complex structural engineering, careful management of site conditions, and close collaboration with council, contractors, and school stakeholders. 

The completed 1,050m² multipurpose turf accommodates two full-size netball courts and markings for a range of indoor and outdoor sports, including markings for Ki-o-rahi. The outcome is a durable, high-quality education facility that delivers long-term value and sets a new benchmark for innovative school infrastructure. 

This facility is a deal breaker on a tiny site. It provides us with a covered outdoor space that is fantastic for PE and sport but also means, for the first time in decades, we are able to have the whole school together in one place if required. This project is a big win for WGC and we're really grateful that former student Rachel Pattison helped us realise it.

Julia Davidson, Wellington Girls’ College Principal

PROJECT

Arthur Street School

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Matt Cowen

Arthur Street School

Arthur Street School, New Zealand’s oldest school, has a rich history dating back to its origins aboard the Phillip Laing in 1864. It was relocated to its current site in 1877, where one of the original buildings still stands as a testament to its legacy. Over the years, the school has remained a cornerstone of education in Dunedin, adapting to the evolving needs of its students while preserving its historical significance.

The redevelopment project involved a multi-stage approach to ensure the school could continue operating throughout construction. This included demolishing sections of the existing school, constructing a new administration and teaching block with an adjoining hall, and completing landscaping works. Care was taken to honour the school's heritage while delivering modern, functional spaces that enhance the learning environment for students and staff.

Our Dunedin project team worked closely with the Ministry of Education, Arthur Street School, Ignite, and Naylor Love to bring this vision to life. By collaborating with key stakeholders and maintaining a strong focus on quality and efficiency, we ensured the project met both historical preservation and future-focused development goals. The result is a revitalised school that blends tradition with contemporary design, securing its place as an educational institution for generations to come.

The TBIG team are professional, demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Ministry’s requirements and processes, and were committed to guiding the school through disruption to their daily operations.  Joseph fostered a collaborative and productive team environment through transparency and effective communication. The project wasn’t without its challenges, and I appreciated his proactive and practical approach to resolving issues. Tracey brings strong and decisive leadership, helping ensure the Ministry’s expectations were met.

anna drinkwater, delivery manager, ministry of education

PROJECT

MANUKURA Campus

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Andrew McCalman

Hayley Mallalieu

manuKURA CAMPUS

MANUKURA is a designated special character secondary School that fosters academic and high-performance sporting excellence within a Māori context. MANUKURA has moved to its new home on the Massey University Campus in Palmerston North, and it’s believed MANUKURA is the first school of its kind in New Zealand to operate on a University campus, giving students a link into the tertiary environment, and creating new pathways of opportunity for the future.

The new MANUKURA campus encompasses several large, connected buildings including a large entrance and dining space. A large gymnasium is fitted with high-quality sports flooring. A central walkway runs the length of a Learning Street with classrooms and technical learning spaces including robotics, art, science, food tech and a performing arts space.

The project team includes TBIG Project Manager, Maycroft Construction Limited as the Design and Build Contractor and Designgroup Stapleton Elliott as the Lead Designer. This is a purpose-built campus which connects MANUKURA to their community. There is cultural adornment in collaboration spaces, with two pou at the ceremonial entrance.

PROJECT

St Patrick’s College Wellington - Chanel Learning Hub

CLIENT

St Patrick’s College

Our team gets results:

Jeremy Wilson

Ian Summerfield

Hayley Mallalieu

St Patrick’s College

The Chanel Learning Hub at St Patrick's College, Wellington, fosters collaboration, provides opportunities to recharge, and supports students learning together. The purpose-built facility caters to all year levels, providing opportunities for students to work, research, and learn in a modern environment — whether as a class, in groups, or individually.

Featuring 800m² of open-plan space, the design incorporates acoustic panels to enhance focus, collaborative workstations for productivity, and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the area with natural light throughout the year. The Learning Hub is centrally located and aligns with the campus’s current aesthetic, connecting to sheltered outdoor teaching spaces, while simultaneously transforming the look and feel of the college.

The Hub is part of a nine-stage masterplan, which has been successfully delivered by TBIG between 2020-2024. TBIG were engaged to assist St Patrick’s College with developing and delivering a directional plan that seismically strengthened the College, while also enhancing the overall aesthetic and learning environment. This was delivered through a multi-stage development plan, which included site-specific geotechnical works through the construction of a boundary wall, new fit for purpose buildings and refurbishments of existing structures

In collaboration with St Patrick's College Wellington, Designgroup Stapleton Elliot as the lead architect, 335 as the services engineer, structural engineer Dunning Thornton, and LT McGuinness as the main contractor, TBIG’s project team successfully realised the College’s vision—transforming it into a resilient, seismically strengthened, visually striking, and modernised learning environment.

Throughout our project, The Building Intelligence Group put us first in everything they did. From communications to recommendations to decision-making, they provided first-class outcomes. I cannot speak highly enough of Juliet, Hayley, Ian, and Jeremy, who are fantastic assets to a brilliant organisation.

Matt buck, St Patrick’s College, wellington

PROJECT

Pūtahi Belfast & Pītau Allenvale Schools

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Tess Browne

Pūtahi Belfast & Pītau Allenvale Schools

A greenfield site in a new subdivision in Belfast was acquired for two co-located schools –Pūtahi, the new Belfast senior school campus, and Pītau Allenvale, a specialist education school.  

The senior school (Years 5-8) has a 12-class open-plan teaching block, administration, hall, playing fields, and parking. Belfast Junior School remains at its original site, with both locations functioning as one school. Allenvale Specialist Education School includes a 10-class teaching space, dedicated facilities, Whānau room, accessible playground, and designated drop-off and pick-up parking.

During the design stage, both schools engaged with local iwi and were gifted a Māori name. TBIG encouraged the Ministry of Education to engage a cultural designer to interpret the narrative elements that arose from the collaboration process with each school, resulting in a cultural colour palate reflected throughout the buildings, signage and landscaping and paving designs. 

TBIG was engaged during the master plan phase of the project as Project Manager/Client Representative and Engineer to Contract under the Ministry’s 2 Stage Design and Construct contract.  

In February 2024 both schools moved into their new dual campus, ready for the beginning of Term 1. The construction stage was well managed by the TBIG team, with a defined programme and the critical January 2024 delivery date.  

TBIG were engaged by the Ministry for ETC & PM services from start to completion of this Project. Their input at the project was extremely professional.

Adel Isaac, Ministry of Education

PROJECT

Te Kura O Manunui Brookfield School

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Bevan Botha

Paul Crum

Nicole Mclean

te kura o manunui brookfield school

To meet significant neighbourhood growth, Te kura o Manunui will double the capacity of the existing Brookfield Primary School.

The new build is comprised of three main buildings and associated infrastructure and it includes a new hall and administration block, two two-storey classroom blocks, access roads, car parks, outside play and learning areas and sports facilities and landscaping.

The project team comprises TBIG as the Project Managers, Form Building & Developments partnering with ASC Architects and BGT Structures, the Ministry of Education, the School, and Tangata Whenua, who have a strong connection to the existing Te Kura o Manunui and the land that the new School is being constructed on. A collaborative design process saw strong engagement with the School and Tangata Whenua.

PROJECT

Tamatea Intermediate

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Tim Schaeffers

Sinea Alexander

Tamatea intermediate

Tamatea Intermediate School in Napier has undergone a transformative $20M redevelopment, replacing ageing infrastructure with a purpose-built environment that reflects the aspirations of its rangatahi. The new school includes three modern teaching blocks, a performing arts space, a dedicated special needs unit for Fairhaven School, and a central pastoral care and administration hub. Designed by Pacific Environments, the new spaces are flexible and light-filled, and deeply connected to the school’s values of manaakitanga, perseverance, integrity, and responsibility.

TBIG was engaged post-detailed design to lead the project through procurement and construction. Delivered in six carefully staged phases, the project maintained full school operations throughout, with temporary classrooms and accessways ensuring continuity. Complex works such as demolition and asbestos removal were timed to school holidays, and the programme was aligned with academic schedules to minimise disruption. Despite challenges including Cyclone Gabrielle, the project remained on time and on budget.

Rooted in whakapapa and inspired by the Takatimu waka, the new school reflects a bold vision realised through TBIG’s leadership and commitment to purposeful delivery. The result is a resilient, inclusive, and future-focused campus - shaped by community, built with care, and designed to support every student’s success.

“The team at TBIG were outstanding project managers throughout our school rebuild. We always felt in safe hands – their collaborative approach meant our voice was heard every step of the way. They skilfully balanced the needs of our kura with the momentum of the build, and the result is a beautiful, functional space that our ākonga and kaiako are proud to call home. We are so grateful for their mahi and aroha throughout this journey.” – Jo Smith, Principal, Tamatea Intermediate

TBIG have once again proven why they excel at delivering education projects. They worked effectively with both internal and external stakeholders, were a pleasure to work with, communicated clearly throughout, and delivered an outstanding result that the entire community is proud of.

Brianna Craw, delivery Team manager, ministry of education

PROJECT

Scott Point Primary School

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Paul Crum

scott point primary SCHOOL

hobsonville

The new Scott Point Primary School features eight innovative learning hubs, equivalent to 28 teaching spaces which are interconnected by a bridge across two blocks, with an administration and central resource area, library and two specialist teaching spaces.  A new multipurpose hall has been designed for assemblies and gymnasium use.  A separate BLENNZ Satellite Unit with a Visual Resource Centre is located at the northern end of the campus, and shares the hall and library spaces.  

Stakeholder engagement – asking and listening, was a real highpoint of this project, with the School and Board, local community, neighbouring interests, iwi and hapū collaborating with our project team and the Ministry. Through clear and open communication about the project, the project’s priorities and programme remained well in sight.  

Although the procurement model changed early, due to external factors, the project team was able to steer the project through the design, consenting and procurement phases, into a well-planned and structured construction phase that could deliver the optimal teaching and learning environment for the School. The result is an inspiring learning environment, a welcome addition to a fast-growing residential development.

PROJECT

Hanley’s Farm Primary School

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Matt Cowen

hanley’s farm primary School

Queenstown continues to see a high level of development with large numbers of residential lots selling instantly in the region. With this level of growth, the Hanley’s Farm Primary School has been designed under a Design and Construct model with Southbase Construction, split into various stages. The community-oriented project involved the building of a new primary and intermediate school for 600 students and it comprises a hall, administration block, intermediate student teaching space, and a two-level teaching space for primary students.

The project team consists of The Building Intelligence Group, Southbase, Stevenson and Turner architects, Lewis Bradford, Powell Fenwick and Rider Levett Bucknall.

The school is enviably positioned between the ever-growing hub of Jack’s Point and rapidly expanding Hanley’s Farm subdivision, boasting the panoramic backdrops of The Remarkables mountain range and Cecil Peak and Lake Wakatipu close by. We can’t imagine a more inspiring place to begin a child’s learning journey.

PROJECT

Mangapikopiko School

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Paul Crum

mangapikopiko school

hingaia

Mangapikopiko School is an entirely new build primary school, on the southern edge of Tamaki Makaurau. The new school is a 2,876m2 flexible and inspirational place of learning for the ākonga of the new subdivision and a hub for the wider community.

The project embodies the Ministry’s strategic vision of providing an exemplar design that can be easily replicable across other sites and identified procurement initiatives that provide cost and real time efficiencies. The project brief considered whole of life costs, including low maintenance building materials, energy efficiency and passive ventilation.

Cultural elements envelop the School’s identity, Mangapikopiko is the name gifted from local Iwi, Ngāti Tamaoho. Moving from an aging campus to a brand-new and dynamic learning environment has meant a cascade of opportunities for students and whanau.

TBIG’s project team brought considerable experience to overcoming initial design and build procurement challenges and then led the project to a successful conclusion, managing risk and maintaining programme in the face of Covid delays and material shortages. The project was recognised with a Property Council NZ Merit Award.

When we embarked on this greenfield project, the Ministry was looking for the exemplar against which new campus builds will be measured in the future. The project team took the brief as gospel and engaged with all stakeholders as early as possible, incorporating requirement and desires as well as local story telling.

Ministry of Education

PROJECT

Te Raekura Redcliffs School

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Watch the video:

te raekura redcliffs school

The Te Raekura Redcliffs School project was one of the most significant new build schools in the South Island for the Ministry of Education. It is the successful culmination of a long journey to rebuild the school, following the loss of their site due to the Christchurch earthquakes. The new school site, with its cliff facing environment, called for an innovative approach to observing and managing archaeological discoveries.

In June 2020, the new campus opened to a chorus of 300 children and guests including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, accompanying Dave Dobbyn singing his “Welcome Home” anthem.

The rebuilt school has 13 classrooms across five exciting learning environments. Timber, artworks and memorabilia such as the original school bell was salvaged and reused.

The Building Intelligence Group facilitated collaboration across the design and construction teams to enable innovation and rapid progress. The team showed initiative and diligence to overcome the impacts of COVID-19 and delivered an exceptional school for the Redcliffs community. 

simon trotter, project Delivery Manager, Ministry of Education

PROJECT

Aotea College

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Andrew McCalman

Angus Bridge

Hayley Mallalieu

aotea college

Aotea College is the first entire Innovative Learning Environment School campus in the Wellington region, with internal access via a ‘learning street’ which links the four teaching blocks, administration block, performing arts centre, gym and auditorium.

Effectively the design solution on this greenfield site encompassed the entire school being reconstructed, aside from the gymnasium. The four teaching block wings contain a highly flexible mix of directed, self-directed and collaborative learning environments which support specialist teaching areas including a food technology hub, technology suites, science laboratories, a library, barista station and café.

8,000m² of space has created an exciting learning environment to take the college into the future. The college remained operational while the construction was carried out, a reflection of the entire teams’ attention to communication and health and safety requirements on a busy campus.

PROJECT

McKinnon Block

CLIENT

Scots College

Our team gets results:

Byron Roff

Jeremy Wilson

scots college

MCKINNON BLOCK

In 2018, Scots College announced its future focused learning strategy which introduced a co-educational senior school with a key requirement within the Master Plan to expand the college to incorporate female students from the start of the 2020 school year. To support this expansion, additional teaching and supportive spaces were required, including a Food Technology Laboratory, new science and technology / makerspace facilities with laser cutters and 3D printers, flexible learning environments, a senior common room and pastoral care areas.

Scots College approached The Building Intelligence Group with a vision, a Master Plan, a concept sketch and an immovable completion date. From here, our team was tasked with end to end control inclusive of procuring the core project team consisting of Athfield Architects, E-Cubed, Rider Levett Bucknall, Clendon Burns and Park and LT McGuinness.

Scots College sought to ‘live its values’ so the design team consulted with the student environmental committee to understand how they wished for the building to be environmentally friendly with a reduced carbon footprint. The design is based on passive solar design principles – encouraging sun into the building for warmth during winter, but reduced sun during summer to avoid over-heating, so air-conditioning is not required. Heating is provided by under-floor heating, powered by energy efficient electric heat pumps. LED light fittings with “daylight harvesting” technology reduces energy requirements. There are solar panels on the roof and the building is naturally ventilated to reduce energy demand.

The McKinnon Block enhances the educational experience at Scots, through sustainable and innovative learning environments.

The McKinnon Block is an important component of our future focused learning strategy, providing an innovative base that blends flexible learning environments, technology spaces and pastoral care seamlessly.

Graeme yule, headmaster, scots college

PROJECT

Avonside Girls’ / Shirley Boys’ High Schools, PPP3

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Two Schools – One Campus

Avonside Girls’ High School and Shirley Boys’ High School are now co-located in their new, state-of-the art 22,000m² campus, delivered under the third schools Public Private Partnership. This one campus vision is a first in New Zealand to combine two single sexed schools.

Following the success of our role as Ministry of Education representative for the Wakatipu High School delivered under PPP2, The Building Intelligence Group was again selected to act as the Ministry’s representative, engaging with the consortium representatives and both schools to assist with key design/build decisions, and steering the schools and MOE through a number of processes to ensure a smooth delivery and relocation process.

The Building Intelligence Group managed the transitioning to our new site, this was no mean task. The time pressure was significant, but their organisation and professionalism kept us on target. 

Tim Grocott, Associate Headmaster, Shirley Boys’ High School

PROJECT

Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery School

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Tess Browne

Ian Currie

Ao Tawhiti

Unlimited Discovery School

Creating a vertically layered school in the heart of the Christchurch CBD has enabled Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery to once again be a school where learning is integrated into the entire city.

After losing its building in the Christchurch earthquakes, this special character school has returned to the city. Years 1 to 13 are connected vertically and horizontally across 5,800m² space over four levels with a central atrium. Specialist areas for drama, science, performance, digital, art and open learning abound.

The Building Intelligence Group’s role enveloped the entire project, from master planning through to design management, procurement and construction management.

The Building Intelligence Group’s attention to detail, concern for quality and professional service attributed to an excellent result for all involved. 

Claire Sim, Senior Delivery Manager, Ministry of Education

PROJECT

Wellington East Girls’ College Redevelopment

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Our team gets results:

Martin Hubbard

Sam Turner

Wellington East Girls’ College

The redevelopment of the main block involved preserving and strengthening the historical 1920’s brick façade and vestibule, behind which sits a new state-of-the-art building containing 28 teaching spaces, a West Wing and circulation Link building. This was one of the Ministry’s largest school projects in Wellington city.

The new facilities include a cultural centre, performance precinct, art studios, media suite, library, extensive food technology space, café, administration areas and a central quad area.

This complex project required strong thinking on several fronts; delivering in a live school environment; efficient staged programming; and complex construction to strengthen and marry the historical façade and vestibule elements with the new build.

PROJECT

Wakatipu High School, PPP2

CLIENT

Ministry of Education

Wakatipu High School – PPP2

The new build Wakatipu High School was delivered under the PPP2 model. As the Ministry of Education’s representative, our role was to engage with the PPP2 Consortium, and the school to ensure a smooth run to completion.

We quickly gained the trust of the school and advised on key design/build challenges and pulled together the many facets of the project into a single reference document. We steered the School Senior Leadership team through a number of processes which were new territory, notably moving to an ILE environment, and the PPP process itself. 

Innovative facilities include a large theatre, dance and recording studio, rock climbing wall, science labs and technology spaces.

Acting in the role of Ministry Representative, The Building Intelligence Group turned around potential end-user/operational issues into a project success story.

Simon Hampson, acting programme manager - central / capital works