DStevens has begun work building a second Innovative Learning Environment at Kaiti School to accommodate a growing number of students enrolled at the school. The new 200sqm building follows the award-winning design of Wharekauri - built in 2015 by DStevens - to give students greater flexibility as to how they spend their day in the classroom. For teachers, the learning space will be an ever-changing and open environment aided with the latest technology. 

"We are excited about working with Kaiti School and Architects 44 again to deliver what will be another challenging but rewarding education project," says Peter Stevens, Managing Director of DStevens. 

The work at Kaiti School is being undertaken concurrently by DStevens construction team and local subcontractors alongside two other education projects in Gisborne - a structural upgrade project at Gisborne Girls High School and a new technology block at Lytton High School. 

"It's about working with schools to understand how we might be able to improve the construction process and delivery to minimise disruption to their students," says Peter. 

Gisborne Girls High School Assembly Hall is currently undergoing a seismic upgrade to meet new building standards and provide a safe and secure space for the students to gather. New structural ties and bracing are being added by Eastland Engineering to the existing portal frames. As well as quake-strengthening of the assembly hall, the project includes an upgrade to the western facade of the building. Work on the strengthening project started in early April of this year and is expected to be completed in mid-July. 

DStevens was awarded the contract to upgrade the Technology Block at Lytton High School in early 2017 and quickly began demolition on site. The project aims to consolidate and upgrade the metalcraft, woodwork and graphics facilities into a large 1400sqm building. The new building has been designed by Darrington Slater Architecture and involves an extensive upgrade to the existing facilities, centred around a steel-framed, glazed atrium that opens out towards the school grounds. 

"These three projects represent our strong commitment to delivering the very best learning environments for students and teachers through our developed knowledge and refined construction techniques," says Peter, adding that for DStevens, it is "not just about delivering a finished project - although that is incredibly important - but also about ensuring we're always building socially, economically and environmentally successful environments that our future leaders can enjoy."