The former High Tide restaurant beside Otago Harbour in Dunedin will become a classroom by the sea, as Otago Girls’ High School moves its rowing boats in.
The school bought the Kitchener St building in mid-2018 at a price which principal Linda Miller said was ‘‘significantly below the value’’.
Following renovations earlier in the year, it would become a new water sports base and innovative learning space.
The building will be formally opened today.
Ms Miller said it would be a ‘‘tribute’’ to the generosity of the school’s community.
‘‘They could see the potential at the site for education and for water sports ... so they offered it to us at very generous rate,’’ she said.
Otago Girls’ parent Mat Caird designed the renovation plans and oversaw the project, free of charge.
The project included a classroom, changing rooms, kitchen, bathroom and a large space to house the boats.
‘‘There is a lot of work [citizen science pupils] are doing around environmental monitoring. The use of the harbour right next door is fantastic.’’
Drama pupils would make good use of the classroom and writers could use it as a ‘‘retreat area’’.
‘‘It is a really exciting development for the school.’’
