Indie School Learning and Development Centre

Client: Indie School
Architect: NH Architecture
Builder: Fairbrother
Structural and Civil Engineer: Collective Consulting
Key Personnel: Alan Leake (Principal Structural Engineer), Jarred Allen (Senior Civil Engineer), Jamie Warr (Senior Civil and Structural Engineer), Trent McCarthy (Structural Modeller), James Weeding (Structural Modeller), Ollie Marshall (Civil Modeller), Christopher Polis (Assistant Engineer)
Completion: 2025–2026
Value: $20 million

Four-Storey Educational Facility in Devonport Living City Precinct

Collective was engaged by Indie School, a pioneering learning and development institution, to collaborate with Fairbrother and NH Architecture on the design and development of an innovative educational facility. The project emphasises high-end architectural aesthetics combined with an advanced structural engineering approach. The Centre features a four-storey structure prominently located in Devonport, adjacent to the Devonport Living City precinct, with infrastructure to connect to surrounding areas.

Engineering Challenges

• Brownfield Site Constraints: The civil design addressed a brownfield site previously occupied by existing structures, involving demolition and connections to pre-existing roadways, as well as installation of new roadways. Realignment of existing mains and additional infrastructure was necessary to support the new facility, including new water, sewer, and drainage mains.
• Comprehensive Geotechnical Requirements: The multi-storey design necessitated comprehensive geotechnical investigations to ascertain suitable foundation materials and types. This informed the development of optimised foundation and footing design systems aimed at minimising costs without compromising structural integrity.
• Mixed Construction Systems: The building comprises strip footings, reinforced masonry, precast concrete walls and columns, in-situ post-tensioned slabs, transfer structures, structural timber, and prefabricated roof trusses—all contributing to cost efficiency. It also incorporates a combination of structural steel framing and precast concrete cores, designed to withstand lateral loads from wind and seismic activity.
• Rooftop Terrace Cantilevers: The rooftop terrace features significant cantilevers and bridging over expansion joints, utilising appropriate slip connections to accommodate movement while maintaining structural integrity.
• Post-Tensioning Optimisation: The design includes two wings utilising post-tensioning systems for larger concrete pours, thereby expediting construction while providing expansive column-free spaces—an improvement over traditional reinforced concrete solutions.
• Load-Bearing Façade Integration: The façade panels serve both an aesthetic purpose and as load-bearing walls—some being corbeled on transfer slabs and others resting on lower walls, requiring careful coordination between architectural vision and structural performance.
• Spandrel Beam Torsion: Multiple installation systems were utilised, with spandrel beams incorporated to support wall panels and resist torsional loads, ensuring stability of the façade system.

Structural Design Solutions

The foundation and superstructure design employed a comprehensive mix of systems optimised for cost and performance. Strip footings provided economical support for lightly loaded areas, while reinforced masonry and precast concrete walls delivered speed of construction and fire resistance.

Post-tensioned slabs in the two wings enabled larger spans with reduced slab thickness, creating the column-free spaces desired for modern educational environments. Transfer structures accommodated architectural requirements for open planning at ground level while supporting the load-bearing façade panels above.

The combination of structural steel framing and precast concrete cores provided efficient lateral load resistance against wind and seismic forces. The rooftop terrace cantilevers utilised slip connections to accommodate thermal and structural movement while maintaining waterproofing integrity.

Civil Design

The brownfield site required extensive underground asset investigations and on-site interactions to effectively integrate with surrounding infrastructure while accommodating new installations and replacing outdated systems. Demolition of existing structures and coordination with live services demanded careful phasing and stakeholder communication.

New roadway connections and realigned utility mains, including water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure, were designed to support the increased demand from the educational facility while maintaining services to adjacent properties.

BIM and Collaboration

Collaboration with NH Architecture was critical to ensure consistency in architectural symmetry and geometry throughout 3D modelling processes. This cooperative effort expedited the shop detailing phase, enabling the contractor to begin site work with wall panels and framing promptly.

The implementation of accurate 3D modelling via Building Information Modelling (BIM) facilitated enhanced collaboration among stakeholders. Early engagement of the contractor in the design phase significantly reduced construction timelines, with shop detailing and modelling completed before contractor involvement.

Collective partnered with ModelTek, a local 3D modelling and shop detailing firm, to streamline coordination among all structural components, architectural elements, and mechanical and electrical services. This collaborative approach resulted in outstanding outcomes for the client.

Key Outcomes

• Four-storey educational facility delivering innovative learning environments.
• Post-tensioned slab systems achieving column-free spaces with construction efficiency.
• Brownfield site successfully remediated with full infrastructure integration.
• Load-bearing façade panels achieving architectural vision and structural efficiency.
• BIM-enabled coordination reducing construction timelines and improving accuracy.
• Seamless integration with Devonport Living City precinct.