Pictured: Dale (Builder), Janet Hamer (Principal Mernda PS) and Darren (Facility Manager, Mernda PS)
- In-house Royal Wolf draftspeople, and modifications and engineering teams, complete design and build of technology hub for primary school
- Royal Wolf’s all-encompassing service, from design stage to build and delivery, made it the standout choice
- Children to study filming, video editing, podcasting and more from prep to grade six
Royal Wolf is helping change primary school education through the development of a DigiTech Hub for Mernda Primary School.
The large building accommodates a full class of 28, with five sound booths and a green screen for classes including filming, podcasts, editing and sound recordings, and accommodates a full class of 28.
Royal Wolf constructed the building by modifying and joining together three 40-foot containers, creating one large room.
Royal Wolf’s in-house draftspeople completed the design before the modifications team and engineers installed windows and a glass sliding door, completed electrical works, reinforced the windows and walls, added insulation panels and painted the building. Royal Wolf engineers also ensured all works complied with Australian standards.
A GAME-CHANGER FOR STUDENTS
The one-of-a-kind hub will be used for classes from prep to grade six, to provide our students with critical technology skills, both to use in their day-to-day lives and for potential careers in film, television, radio and more.
“This will provide us with an extensive program that caters for all elements of learning, from fine motor skills to valuing handwriting as much as being technically savvy,” says Janet Hamer, Mernda Primary School Principal.
“We know digital technologies are really important elements, so we want to ensure our students are upskilled prior to them entering secondary school. They will already be embedded in their learning at primary school, so they can explore digital technologies more intensively.”
HOW TO DELIVER A BUILDING, ROYAL WOLF STYLE
Delivery was complex due to the location of the school in suburban Melbourne, but Royal Wolf organised trucks that were able to navigate the narrow roads and a crane to place the building inside school grounds.
“We had to assemble the building at our depot to ensure everything fit, aligned and was structurally fine. Once that all got done, we delivered it to the school on side loader trucks,” says David.
“Our drivers did an amazing job getting it through the residential area where the school is located and getting it as close to the school grounds as possible. We hired a 60-tonne crane to lift the building off the back of the trucks, over the fence and over a building to position it in the spot the school wanted the unit.”
ACCESS ALL AREAS: WHY ROYAL WOLF WAS THE STANDOUT CHOICE
Janet completed a thorough research and budgeting process, approaching “at least four container companies” before Royal Wolf’s all-encompassing service made it the standout choice.
“We found that Royal Wolf was the one that could provide us with the very best of what we wanted. They were fantastic in the way they worked with us, whereas a lot of companies said this is what we can provide and we can’t adjust things to suit you. But Royal Wolf came to the party,” says Janet.
Royal Wolf worked in collaboration with Mernda Primary School, Cushman & Wakefield and Langham Building Co., with the latter to complete soundproofing and fit out.
“Their communication and ability to work with us and our builders allowed it all to fall into place,” says Janet.
“Nothing we asked was too difficult, or if it was, they were able to work around it. If we were to do it again, I wouldn’t hesitate to go with Royal Wolf.”
