TSA provided end-to-end project management services, from business case development through to the handover and commissioning of the new Santa Sophia Catholic College.
The AUD$150m school is on a greenfield site within a mixed-use development in western Sydney known as The Gables. It accommodates 1900 students in a 4/6 stream college. The school is a coeducation facility which operates from kindergarten to year 12 and includes an early learning centre for 60 students. The development also provides out-of-hours and vacation-care facilities, shared facilities with the public beyond school hours, and shared use of the proposed sports fields.
The school was built in just 16 months. To meet the tight program we set up and managed an accelerated design program with a very Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase. To help expedite the construction, the project included innovative, off-site fabrication.
The school opened to students in November 2021 and features a slippery dip and climbing nets for students to move between floors. Specialist learning areas are also featured to help students develop workforce skills. These include a cafe style canteen with commercial kitchens for hospitality students, an industry-standard creative and performing arts centre, a professional-quality sound studio, and advanced STEM facilities.
Due to higher than expected public submissions during the Environmental Impact Statement exhibition period, the project was referred to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC). TSA managed the response to submissions to mitigate program delays and continue through the design process.
TSA managed the IPC approval process through the months of March and April 2020, adapting to the changing environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
