Northcote College technology block

Naylor Love delivered the new technology block at Northcote College, Te Toka Tū Moana. The building comprises 37 specialist teaching spaces – notably including four commercial-grade kitchens and a restaurant – plus a library and learning support centre across two three- and four-storey wings linked by a full-height glazed central atrium. External works included landscaping, pedestrian connections, car parking and campus-wide infrastructure upgrades to drainage, power and communications.

The sloping site added to the complexity of what was otherwise a standard structural steel and precast concrete build, including extensive temporary works and nine K-Brace columns set 3.2 metres below the slab on grade. Excellent relationships with the wider project team forged during our ECI involvement ensured our buildability insights were incorporated early, helped to respond to funding changes and resulted in a highly collaborative project.

The site resource sorting area was so well organised that we ran tours for council and industry groups, with dedicated bins, clear signage and even a shed built from old hoarding panels to protect the reusable materials. The waste diversion rate over the project was an excellent 92.5% of waste diverted away from landfill.

Our team planned and delivered the project in a live school environment, using detailed staging, strong site management and a proactive safety culture to minimise disruption. We became part of the community during our three years we were on site, taking part in careers sessions and open days. We also ran regular tours and education sessions for the school, a local kindergarten and tertiary providers. We’re especially pleased that a Massey University capstone project we supported led to two students being employed as Naylor Love cadets.