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Warrawong High School

Posted by JPA&D

The Illawarra Mercury

New Warrawong High School lift boosts its many students with a disability

Wollongong MP Paul Scully, student Borce Petreski and Warrawong High School principal Rick Coleman show off the school's new lift.
NEW LIFT: Wollongong MP Paul Scully, student Borce Petreski and Warrawong High School principal Rick Coleman show off the school’s new lift.

By Agron Latifi. Published: 7 September 2017.

The challenge to get to and from classes is now much easier for Borce Petreski and other Warrawong High School students with a disability. The installation of a $500,000 lift at the school means students such as Borce no longer have to rely so much on teachers aides to move around the school. Support unit head teacher Jeff Bailey said the much-needed lift also meant students would now be able to spend more time learning than actually commuting to class. Before the lift was installed the trip to classes cut about 10 minutes out of lesson time for students like 17-year-old Borce. ‘’The lift really was imperative for our school,’’ Mr Bailey said. ‘’We have the largest support unit on the South Coast. We have eight classes here for our 75 students with a disability. ‘’These kids need to access three different levels in the school to access our support classrooms which all have specific learning resources in them. ‘’The lift will be advantageous really to all our students as well as to our staff.’’ Mr Bailey praised principal Rick Coleman for his part in securing the lift for the school. ‘’It’s a win for students and the support staff,’’ he said.

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Illawarra Schools upgrade

Posted by JPA&D

Year: 2017
Client: NSW Department of Finance & Services
Location: Illawarra region, NSW

In 2016 JPA&D undertook the design of lifts, ramps and bathrooms to improve the quality of access to six schools in the Illawarra Region. The main focus was to increase access for students with disabilities.

All of the schools required ramps and some, notably at Nareena Hills Public School and Bomaderry High School had a requirement for ramps that were very extensive. The costs to construct the larger ramps in concrete would have been significant so JPA&D researched alternative materials that would provide robust performance, minimal maintenance and aesthetic appeal.

New lifts were provided at Warrawong and Illawarra Sports High and these were constructed externally to the existing structure but integrated with the existing building to provide direct access from existing corridor spaces.

Bathrooms were upgraded at Illawarra Sports High School and Bomaderry high School to provide new toilet, shower and change facilities for students with disabilities.

 

Caroline Chisholm School

Posted by JPA&D
Caroline Chisholm School

Year: 2015
Client: NSW Public Works
Location: Padstow, NSW

School_CarolineChisholm_4

Caroline Chisholm School provides an educational environment for students with moderate to high support needs and prepares them to live and work as independently as possible in the wider community. JPA&D were engaged to help the school achieve its aims through the provision of new wheelchair accessible change rooms and toilet facilities connected to the existing swimming pool.

An angled plan form was developed to provide clear site lines and afford easy supervision of students whilst being contained within the existing swimming pool zone. An exaggerated roof form provided a covered area next to the pool and increased the surface area available for of solar heating of the pool water.

The Change room facilities contained showers, toilets and hand basins as well as a wall mounted change table and an X-Y transverse ceiling mounted hoist for the assistance of those students in wheelchairs.

Additional works to the grounds around the pool area were undertaken to provide new fencing and gate access to the pool area, concrete aprons up to the pool edge and a new hoist for student pool access.