Architectural firms have started work on their first design ideas for the Remarkables Primary School development in Frankton.
The Ministry of Education appointed Coffey Projects (NZ) Ltd on Friday following open tenders and evaluation to oversee the development of the new school and to work with the school's establishment board of trustees to select an architect.
Inaugural school board chairman Roy Thompson said resource consents were in place and the establishment board was working through the building design and consent process.
"We're inviting three architectural firms to submit concept designs and we hope to have the initial concept designs within three weeks.
"We aim to make a selection by the end of August.
Time is of the essence in this project."
Mr Thompson said the priority was to find an architectural firm which was experienced in innovative school design and could incorporate the "draft vision statement".
The statement calls for an open-plan and landscaped campus, with pods of four classrooms, and water hole, camp fire and cave meeting places.
Mr Thompson said the board wanted the school to be at least four-star green-rated, "so we're considering all aspects of environmentally aware design, including solar energy, low-energy consumption technology, grassed roofs, recycling and sound-proofing.
Double-glazing is a given".
Establishment trustees Judy Sim, Chris Cerecke, John Stalker, Darren Rewi and the chairman, along with governance facilitator Michael Deaker, looked at modern schools around New Zealand.
They were particularly impressed with Oteha Valley School, in Auckland, for its layout and learning environment, Mr Thompson said.
Remarkables Primary School will be built on 1.6ha of ministry-owned land on Lake Avenue.
"The existing playcentre building will need to be demolished and the ministry will find a new home for it, either on the school site or elsewhere," Ministry of Education southern region manager Michael De'Ath said.
"Again, the establishment board will be consulted on this decision."
Site works are expected to start in late November and construction early next year.
The new school is due to open in 2010.
More than 20 teachers will educate 460 pupils, including special needs children, in years one to eight, within 20 classrooms.
There would be early childhood education and scope for a community library and an FM radio station operated by pupils.
Mr Thompson said the enrolment area was being worked on.
Mr De'Ath said catchment would be determined in consultation with the other schools in the district.
The ministry declined to say how much the school would cost.
Mr De'Ath said details of the proposed budget, "will be in accordance with the ministry's construction rates for new schools . . .
The final budget would need to be approved by the Minister of Education."
Mr Thompson said the board was keen to hear public feedback on the school's draft vision statement, which is posted on www.remarkablesprimary.school.nz
