A school that fosters community.

Puketapu school

In recent years, Puketapu school has grown significantly due to new housing developments in the Bell Block area. Since 2014, the roll has nearly doubled meaning the school had to convert their hall and library into temporary classrooms to accommodate the growth.

To keep providing the best possible education to local children, they needed a more permanent solution, and that’s why they invested in a new custom-built classroom block, designed to deliver the best education experience both now and in the future.

The school's enrollment has nearly doubled in recent years, so a new classroom block was a must.

With significant increases in enrollment numbers that are continuing to climb, the new classroom block needed to be adaptable, enduring, and cohesive. It was important the building reflected the local community and aligned with the values of families and hapū in the area. That’s why each of these groups had input in the design and collaborated to create a space that continues to meet those needs for many years to come.

The new building needed to be a practical learning environment, and therefore versatile, durable, and easy to clean. That’s why the layout of the interior can be divided into four separate classrooms, or eight smaller sections, and has a kitchen area and craft space in the centre.

A bustling centre that will be a space for people to come together and learn for generations to come.

UNO partnered with architect Ardern Peters and Southcoast Construction on the project and supplied a total of 43 window and door units for this robust new classroom block.

The Matt Ironsand aluminium frames used will maintain their sleek appearance and stand the test of time, even in the intensity of the classroom setting, while the laminated or 'safety' glass serves to reduce both sound and fading. This functional combination allows effective light and ventilation into the classroom, facilitating a healthy, happy, and warm place for teachers and students all year round.

The overall design of the building speaks to more than just practicalities however, as it also represents significant aspects of the local community. In fact, the interior colours of blues, greens, timber, and Matt Ironsand were chosen to represent the land and sea. And above it all are the marae-inspired ceilings as a nod to the school being “a whanau group, under one roof”.

The school principal Ngatai Walker said the build was completed on time and on budget making it a positive experience throughout. Walker shared that he’s “grateful to have this new space. It’s a quality 21st-century learning environment for our kids.”

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