James Cook High School Masterplan
Prepared for Ministry of Education
The ministry has projected significant roll growth in the catchment of James Cook High School and is projecting roll growth from the current 1340 students to 3500 in 2048.
Closely working with the school and MoE, Agne Sumskyte and David Baird has prepared a Masterplan which provides students with multiple outdoor gathering areas and places to dwell.
Also, the new BLENNZ SATELLITE UNIT on campus and this function is in addition to the projected roll growth.
Preferred option has been prepared in response to comments made at the 100% DRP review and increases the extent of 3-storey buildings with a view to improve the ratio of outdoor space per student.
Generally, the overall campus masterplan follows the concept presented in the preferred Option 1 but the additional building height enables two buildings to be removed. In terms of outdoor area gain this equates to less than 0.4m2 per student. The High School’s review of this option expressed a preference for two-story construction for operational and cultural reasons. The shading impact of three-story construction was seen as detrimental by the High School.
This option retains the two pedestrian avenues centrally with vehicle access confined to the two boundaries. The two pedestrian avenues will manage the significant numbers of students moving through the campus at times of peak movement. We note that presently there is no formal vehicle access to the rear of the site which could be problematic in event of an emergency. This is resolved by the new vehicle roads which will separate traffic from students while providing access to the rear fields. The site services will be predominantly managed down the main access routes.
It is proposed to locate the Marae and Māori Studies to the North-west corner of the site and reposition the hard courts to the rear of the site. The Pacific Studies and Fale will also be located at the front of the campus. Administration and the Hall/Theatre are positioned at the front of the site which will benefit public use. We have allowed to provide a new hall/Theatre centrally in the site with Administration located on the eastern side of the campus.
The outdoor commons area is considered an essential gathering location for the School and comprises two main elements; the shaded commons with pavilion (for performance, meetings and other use) and the outdoor commons. The library/Information Centre is positioned at the southern side of the shaded commons and connection with the outdoor commons as a learning space is envisaged. The School is passionate that the two commons’ spaces become the heart of the campus providing a positive outdoor space for gathering, recreation and performance. Technology is located on the western boundary with good delivery access.
A second outdoor gathering area is envisaged for the south-eastern side of the school, where natural contour can be utilised to create an outdoor gathering space in association with adjacent teaching spaces. Potentially the outdoor area could have a shade sail to provide weather/wind protection and enhance its usefulness.
The new teaching spaces will be primarily two-storey and a network of balconies established along with vertical access points will be located to enable safe and efficient movement around the campus on the higher level. These will be located between the roads and pedestrian avenues and positioned to create positive outdoor space, predominantly with a north aspect. This will enable the buildings to take advantage of sustainable technologies including, solar arrays, passive solar heating/cooling and also rainwater harvesting.
Carparking numbers will be less than the present Unitary Plan requirement of two per teaching space at 307, approximately 3.5% less than the 318 required.
