Balmoral State High School Trade Skills Centre

The new Metro South Engineering Trade Centre has facilities at several local schools, including this project at Balmoral High School.

This training facility caters to students in Engineering and Manufacturing Technology, and provides introductory trade sampling through to Certificate 2 qualifications.

The site was challenging for several reasons, including topography and existing services. It traversed a level area over a bitumen court but extended across an earth bank to the east, with a varying slope of up to approximately three metres height difference with the adjacent roadway. This required extensive ground works, based on geographical and geotechnical survey information.

In addition, we had to navigate numerous sewer, water, stormwater and power services that cross the site, and all of these constraints informed our schematic design.

This new training centre takes its cues from operational industrial facilities, so we proposed that it should resemble an industrial-type building design, with internal insulation to the underside of roof and walls where possible. To further enhance thermal performance, whirly-birds and a ridge vent on the roof assist with heat extraction and natural cooling.

The building’s height accommodates a gantry and electric hoist. Internally, it comprises an open plan engineering workshop to aid in supervision of students, a 12m² staff work room, a kitchenette, and an amenities unit with shower for staff and students.

We also had to plan for vehicles to access the workshop loading area for the delivery of materials by medium rigid vehicles (MRV), so we incorporated a turn-around facility in the existing roadway.

We positioned the loading dock 1.2m below the building’s floor level to enable level loading of materials from trucks into the Trade Skills Centre. For ease of materials handling and storage, all raw metal racking is located near the Loading Dock.

High ceilings throughout and the 5.5m tall roof enabled the installation of a gantry, to further streamline the movement of materials and projects throughout the building.

Because this building is well insulated – compared to typical industrial facilities – it is comfortable all year round. The openings that enhance thermal performance and natural ventilation are carefully located to prevent excess noise from emanating to nearby structures.