A modern and exciting learning environment for Dunedin’s oldest school.

With buildings dating from the late 1800’s to the 1960’s at Arthur Street Primary School, the Ministry of Education engaged a design team to develop plans for a new school to meets the needs of a modern learning environment.

As part of the team led by Ignite Architects, Boffa Miskell developed a landscape design for the school grounds that complements the new teaching spaces, administration blocks and hall; and gained planning approval for the redevelopment.

Along with heritage considerations, the steep topography of the site and limited access needed to be addressed in the design process.

Client

The Ministry of Education and Arthur Street Primary School

Location

Otago

Project team

Mark Brown
Emma Taylor

Worked with

Ignite Architects
RDT Pacific Estimators
TBIG Project Managers
TM Consultants Engineers

Project date

2020 - ongoing

Arthur Street Primary is Dunedin’s oldest school, moving to its current site next to Otago Boy’s High School and the Town Belt in 1877. Recognition of this heritage in the new school buildings and grounds included retention of the historic Infants Building (1887), and plaques and a flagpole within the school ground.

Originally sited and constructed in an era before motor vehicles, the school sits high above street level on two terraced areas. The site’s steep topography was a significant challenge, both for access to the school and useable outdoor spaces.

Key components of our work include new accessible feature entry steps to the school administration block, an extended car park and access drive and path, two flat useable court terraces and amphitheatre seating, making the most of the site’s gradient.

The project has progressed, with staged construction commencing in 2022, due to be complete in 2024.

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