Endeavour Primary School

Overview

Purpose-built Innovative Learning Environment (ILE) school, doubling as a Civil Defence Centre for the community. Built for the Ministry of Education.

About the project

Constructed on a greenfield site, Stage 1 was completed in just nine months and achieved a 5 Green Star rating, reflecting the project's strong focus on sustainability, resilience and contemporary learning.

Stage 1 comprised three new teaching buildings, external site works, carparking, playing fields and sports courts. Flexible learning spaces were designed to be light, open and adaptable, providing stimulating environments that support a range of teaching styles and learning needs. The development also includes a gymnasium designed to function as a Civil Defence Centre in the event of a natural disaster or seismic event, incorporating enhanced structural elements including substantial concrete floor slabs and large K-bracing for increased resilience.

Fosters contributed to the project's sustainability objectives by incorporating recycled aggregate into the concrete and implementing comprehensive waste management practices, achieving almost 80% construction waste diversion.

Following the successful completion of Stage 1, Fosters was engaged under a Design & Build contract to deliver Stage 2, an additional teaching block. Through close collaboration with MoE and school representatives, the team identified practical design efficiencies, including improvements to the heating and cooling systems and structural rationalisation, enabling the project to be delivered within constrained programme and budget requirements.

Collaborative partnerships, innovative design solutions and efficient project delivery were key to the success of this project.

Client testimonial

Endeavour School caters for the learning needs of up to 400 students between 5 and 11 years of age. The flexible learning spaces were designed to be light, airy, and stimulating for the students.

“There is no ‘front of classroom’ at Endeavour School” said Principal Marcus Freke. “The spaces are organised so students can work explicitly with their teacher, collaboratively with their peers or independently. With a vision of ‘learning without limits’ we wanted a physical environment to help facilitate this.”

A strong partnership formed between Fosters, the Ministry of Education and the Endeavour School community. Designed by Aecom, project managed by Frequency and cost managed by Maltbys, all parties worked collaboratively to ensure this vision for learning came to fruition.

“On March 14, 2014, Prime Minister John Key ‘turned the sod’ in an empty paddock” said Marcus. “On December 9, (the same year) we welcomed our students and families into our school.

“In nine short months, Fosters transformed our paddock into a bright and vibrant learning environment, which took the community’s breath away.”