St Martins Senior School Hub
Client:
Design Inc
Location:
Mount Gambier, SA
Project value: $10.1m
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Designed for today’s learning environments.
What we did
In recent years, Tonkin has partnered with St Martins Lutheran College to deliver structural and civil engineering services for a number of developments across the campus, including the original ‘Ark’ building completed in 2003. This long-standing relationship provided valuable insight into the existing site conditions and infrastructure, informing both the new design works and the seamless modification of the existing building and services, including stormwater drainage.
Working closely with the College and the broader project team, Tonkin’s structural and civil engineers helped shape a contemporary teaching and learning environment that prioritises staff and student wellbeing, collaboration, and academic achievement.
The new Senior Hub offers a highly flexible learning setting, incorporating open-plan performance areas, purpose-designed study pods, adaptable learning zones, and dedicated offices for senior staff and wellbeing support.
Construction was strategically staged to ensure continuity for multiple trades, utilising structural steel framing, Bondek slab systems, and substantial pad footings.
Externally, the building presents a refined material palette of brickwork, aluminium cladding, and timber soffits, with the upper level extending toward the school oval to strengthen the connection between learning spaces and the wider campus.
Working closely with the College and the broader project team, Tonkin’s structural and civil engineers helped shape a contemporary teaching and learning environment that prioritises staff and student wellbeing, collaboration, and academic achievement.
The new Senior Hub offers a highly flexible learning setting, incorporating open-plan performance areas, purpose-designed study pods, adaptable learning zones, and dedicated offices for senior staff and wellbeing support.
Construction was strategically staged to ensure continuity for multiple trades, utilising structural steel framing, Bondek slab systems, and substantial pad footings.
Externally, the building presents a refined material palette of brickwork, aluminium cladding, and timber soffits, with the upper level extending toward the school oval to strengthen the connection between learning spaces and the wider campus.
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Scope of works
Tonkin provided comprehensive structural, civil and geotechnical engineering services for the project, beginning with site investigations to understand the existing building and inform the required upgrades. The team designed the building’s key structural elements, including the framing, floors, walls, foundations, access stairs and ramps, and external paved areas, as well as structural support for the façade and entrance features.
Civil engineering services focused on coordinating site levels and groundworks, managing stormwater requirements, working with Council, and designing site drainage and retaining structures to support the overall development.
Civil engineering services focused on coordinating site levels and groundworks, managing stormwater requirements, working with Council, and designing site drainage and retaining structures to support the overall development.
Methodology
Tonkin worked closely with DesignInc from concept through to completion, providing clear, coordinated engineering support at every stage of the project. Early involvement included site visits, design workshops, and the review of existing information to help shape the preferred design approach and support planning approvals.
As the design progressed, Tonkin continued to collaborate with the project team to ensure the building and site design were fully integrated. Detailed documentation was prepared to support tendering and construction, within ongoing assistance provided during delivery through site inspections, coordination with contractors, and attendance at key milestones to help ensure the project was constructed as intended and achieved a high-quality outcome.
As the design progressed, Tonkin continued to collaborate with the project team to ensure the building and site design were fully integrated. Detailed documentation was prepared to support tendering and construction, within ongoing assistance provided during delivery through site inspections, coordination with contractors, and attendance at key milestones to help ensure the project was constructed as intended and achieved a high-quality outcome.
Problems which arose and resolution achieved
The two storey building suspended over the sloping batter of the sports oval. Challenges were presented to the footings and earthworks contractor with challenging ground encountered during excavation of isolated footings. Tonkin’s locally based engineering team were able to attend site without delays, reassess conditions and optimise the footing design layout without impacting the structure or building layout to reduce the extent of excavations required through the difficult ground.
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How we made a difference
Tonkin’s coordinated 3D civil and structural designs were implemented into regular BIM model sharing coordinated by the Architect. Early clash detection of consultant models significantly reduced the number of clashes and issues arising during construction. Where required structural members were adjusted to avoid services clashes, particularly through the relatively shallow floor depth required to match into the existing structure.
Innovations & value for money
The floor slab of the second storey was designed to suspended over the batter slope of the sports oval. In lieu of introducing a high cantilevered retaining structure and importing of fill material, the suspended slab solution enabled simplified access for installing inground/subfloor services. The design of the slab was optimised to eliminate the need for temporary propping during construction which would have been costly and logistically complex on the sloping terrain.
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