Meningie Area School Redevelopment

In 2016 the SA Department of Education and Child Services engaged the SA Government building agency, DPTI, to undertake a masterplan for the Meningie Area School primarily to replace substandard, asbestos filled and leaking modular buildings.

The masterplan called for three distinctive pods to accommodate the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools. In February 2017 DPTI called for tenders to design and document the redevelopment of the Meningie Area School.

Through competitive bidding, Troppo was selected as the Lead Professional Services Consultant (LPSC) for the project.

The DPTI masterplan and tender called for the transportable buildings to be constructed with the appearance of permanency. The procurement method DPTI chose for the delivery of the new facilities was to have a Transportable Buildings Contract (TBC) and a General Building works Contract (GBC).

From the outset Troppo worked with the School in identifying and including local and especially Ngarindjerri artists in the project. Architecture and site textures all extend the site’s natural Coorong setting.

The project involved complex overlaying of site services, as well as extensive civil and landscaping works. Complex timing and decanting issues meant that the project had to be staged in order for the School to remain operational throughout the building works. Difficulties encountered with having two separate building contractors working on the same site required delicate negotiating skills to keep the project on track and on time. Folding SA Power Networks power upgrades into the project also required complex coordination of multiple subcontracts in order to achieve the necessary project program and a continuously working school.

The buildings were delivered to site and all GBC works on time – and with a real Coorong flair.