Avondale College - New Maths Block

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Award:  Monte Craven Architectural Building Award

Project:  Avondale College - New Maths Block

Entrant:  Jasmax Architects

Owner:  Ministry of Education

Architect:  Jasmax Architects

Consultant:  HLK Jacobs

Contractor:  Alliance Construction

Other Firms:  Nauhria Precast; Auckland Civil; Gill and Gundry; Formstress Precast

 

What the judges said

This category was won by the Avondale College - Maths Building project. Designed by Jasmax Ltd, Architects, and Engineers, HLK Jacobs, the project was constructed by Alliance Construction using precast concrete panels supplied by Nauhria Precast Ltd. The judges were impressed by the clean lines of the vertical precas Thermomass panels with their durable, fire-resistant surfaces, inside and out. This new Maths Building forms part of an ongoing study by Unitec to model the thermal mass effects of concrete construction compared to insulated light-weight construction, in a similar building. We look forward to hearing the outcome of that study in the future. Avondale College was seeking to create a sense of permanence and solidity with this concrete building. In the opinion of the judging panel they have certainly achieved that, and in a way that blends harmoniously with the adjacent buildings.

 

The two storey structure is shear wall to three sides made from precast, thermally insulated concrete panels, with an in-situ concrete frame to the fourth.  The floors are slab on grade concrete at ground level, with a suspended concrete floor above.  The concrete inside has been carefully insulated from the external environment and been kept largely exposed to the internal environment.  This is the first time the project team is aware that Thermomass panels have been used as the main structure and building envelope in a secondary school building in New Zealand.

 

There was a desire for the material and structure of the new Maths Building for Avondale College to be expressive of itself and the school's character.  It had to be durable for weathering and human wear and tear.  A tight programme dictated fast procurement of the primary structure and envelope enabling the school to move in without costly temporary accommodation.  The buildings had to achieve a thermally comfortable and highly efficient building envelope.  Through utilising concrete as a material we were able to achieve the multiple requirements in a cost effective and highly beneficial manner for the college.