SBS were engaged to convert an original federation house into an interactive learning facility for the school to use for their senior students while studying for exams. The house was built circa 1910 and has rich local community history for the Sutherland shire area.
The house is owned by Our Lady of Mercy High School, Burraneer. With a large amount of input from the heritage consultant SBS were tasked with creating an interactive & open learning space which would be made up of offices, classrooms, bathrooms, kitchen & a new courtyard area for students to use while studying for exams while still having the house completed in line with major heritage requirements and criteria set by the heritage architect.
The works completed were much more than aesthetic with a number of major changes being incorporated into the overall plans for the build.
A standout feature for the house was the incorporation of custom-made timber windows & doors with the addition of new bi-fold doors to provide the option for staff and students to have an open learning area or to alternatively have the house segregated into different rooms to separate teaching & office areas.
SBS worked proactively with structural engineers, trades & suppliers to ensure that works were completed to the highest standard with no delay to the project. Major structural alterations to the substructure and structure of the house included substantial underpinning to major load bearing walls throughout, construction of new floor framing in line with heritage architect requirements & construction of new substructure walls to the rear of house to cope with both lateral & vertical loads imposed on the structure.
Once the building was sound structurally the team set about patching, repairing, making good and constructing new building elements to match existing features. Custom carpentry items including, scotia, skirting, cornices & external gables/struts had to be sourced or made from scratch onsite to achieve the heritage objectives set out by the architect.
SBS on this project were able to show case the technical depth of their knowledge when it comes to completing projects that are not within the norms of commercial construction. The team were able to demonstrate that their proactive attitude to dealing with consultants and trades people is the back bone behind delivering projects within the project program and within the clients budget.