Work at Wellington’s Thorndon School, which first opened in 1852, will begin in late 2016. This includes new teaching and administration blocks and the refurbishment of an existing building to become a new library and resource centre.
The new teaching block will comprise 13 learning spaces, replacing the school’s 11 existing classrooms and providing two extra learning spaces to accommodate the growth in numbers of students at the school.
All of the new learning spaces will be flexible, contributing to an innovative learning environment.
Thorndon School occupies a small, compact site, so the new buildings will be configured to ensure there is enough outdoor learning and play space, and enhance access-ways to and through the school grounds.
Construction will happen in 2 phases, with a temporary village of classrooms situated on the neighbouring Wellington Girls’ College site while redevelopment work is underway. The school has already moved into this space.
Thorndon School was first established as St Paul’s School in Sydney Street in 1852. Around 1873 its name was changed to Thorndon School, and it moved to its current site in 1880.
Construction is expected to take approximately 15 months to complete.
Almost $100 million of school redevelopments have been announced in the Wellington area since last November.