Spiritus Story

It was a celebration filled with felicity and thanks, as the whole school, along with distinguished guests, parents and ex-students, gathered for the Blessing and Opening of Spiritus, our new centre of innovation, followed by a special viewing for parents and the local community.

Another significant milestone was reached in the Spiritus project as demountable temporary classrooms were removed from our campus.

Over 60 aspiring student engineers attended a fascinating lunchtime workshop on the 'super beam' which now spans our new gymnasium space. Led by Northrop Engineers, during the workshop students heard first hand from the structural engineers and architects involved in the project.

The specialists unpacked their approach to solving the real-world problem of reengineering structural support pillars in order to integrate spectator seating into the new space. They stressed how the project objectives were two fold. Firstly, the structural solution had to be fit for purpose from a load bearing perspective. Additionally, the reengineered supporting structure itself had to be built in situ in order to accommodate the practical constraints and complexities of a large construction site.

Students were then challenged to solve an engineering problem in their maths classes afterwards.

Farewell 'Lottie' the Crane

April 2022

An historic milestone was reached on Friday 29 April 2022 as the 82 metre tower crane, known affectionately in the school community as ‘Lottie’, was dismantled and removed. Two previous attempts to remove the crane were thwarted by inclement weather and the long-overdue Sydney sunshine on the day meant the substantial operation could go ahead.

Our Student Executive toured the Innovation Centre site, including the new glass stairwell, gymnasium, TAS rooms, the multipurpose, flexible learning environments and the outdoor spaces and play areas. The students were interested to hear about the building’s many sustainable and energy-efficient design features, such as the integrated solar-protected glazing and mechanically-assisted natural ventilation.

Façade, Walkways and Fit-out Progress

November 2021

During December and into January 2022, work will continue on the internal fit-out and the façade of the building. In addition, the glazing of the glass stairway and installing balustrades for the walkways will be completed. We are also planning for ‘Lottie’ the crane to be removed early in the New Year, which is a major milestone in the progression of our new building.

Structural works to interlink walkways and the gym extension continued. Fit-out works on all levels have commenced and work on the brick façade is underway. All construction continues in accordance with NSW Health Orders.

Following the NSW Premier’s announcement on Saturday 17 July 2021 to stop construction work to limit the spread of COVID-19, Richard Crookes Constructions ceased work on the Innovation Centre for a period of two weeks. Construction resumed on Monday 2 August 2021 with safety measures in place as per the NSW Health Orders.

Following the shutdown, work to fit out the Lower Ground Level 1 and below continued and work also commenced on the building facade on Level 1.

A new project milestone was reached this month as above-ground construction commenced. The Ground Floor slab and the Level 1 suspended slab were both poured and fit-out activities continued to move ahead on Lower Ground Level 3. Around the Junior School, demolition in the areas near the walkways and the Marian Centre were completed and excavation in the external area continued.

Construction works began near the Junior School once overhead protection was in place. All of the Lower Ground level structural works were completed and work commenced on the internal fit-out in these Lower Ground levels. Scaffold was erected to Ground Floor height and preparation for the slab on this level was undertaken. Works to install the new electrical substation were also completed.

The next phase in the project will involve fit-out and finishing works to the Lower Ground levels and concrete pours to the Ground Floor and gym extension slabs.

A group of Year 12 students were eager to hear about the new learning opportunities available to them as a result of the Innovation Centre build, including the chance to learn about a career in the construction industry under the guidance of the project team currently on site.

Equipped with hi-vis vests and hard hats, the students were introduced to the team of builders, engineers and project managers involved in the construction of the new building and saw the Centre taking shape first hand. They also learned about the construction process and the unique features of this state-of-the-art facility.

The students were grateful for the invaluable opportunity to visit the site in person and are looking forward to their continued involvement in the project going forward.

Thursday 3 December 2020 saw the arrival of an 82 metre crane on the Innovation Centre construction site. The crane, which has a 55 metre arm, is required to transfer materials and equipment onto the Loreto Kirribilli site and will be utilised for the duration of the build. This significant piece of construction equipment created a great deal of excitement in Loreto Kirribilli Junior School with students invited to take part in a ‘Name the Crane’ competition. More than 250 entries were received and ‘Lottie’, put forward by Year 6 student Lucy, was selected as the winner following a vote by students and staff.

“I chose Lottie as the Bob the Builder Crane is called Lofty. In the interest of empowering women, I did the female version of Lofty which is Lottie,” explained Lucy.

We are very excited to announce the appointment ofRichard Crookes Constructions as the construction contractor for the building of the Loreto Kirribilli Innovation Centre.

The construction of this significant building incorporates a range of dynamic, versatile learning spaces and studios. Our new Innovation Centre will also provide important connections to, and expand the use of, the Marian Centre, Centenary Hall and Gymnasium.

We are currently working closely with Richard Crookes Constructions to develop the staging plan for this significant project milestone which will see the building of our Innovation Centre through to completion. The building phase will commence after the HSC examinations in mid-November with further details about specific timeframes, activities and arrangements for the later part of 2020 and 2021 forwarded in due course.

COVID-19 Update

March 2020

The COVID-19 situation continues to unfold creating ongoing changes and challenges for our families, community, businesses and the broader economy. Given the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19, the Loreto Kirribilli Board has decided to postpone the construction phase of the Innovation Centre.

Both bulk excavation and the ensuing detailed excavation activities are currently forecast for completion in mid-May 2020, dependent on weather conditions. At the conclusion of these activities the project will be postponed. Timeframes for the commencement of the construction phase will continue to be reviewed in alignment with the evolving COVID-19 situation.

The bulk excavation works commenced in late 2019 and continued over the Christmas holidays. During the last weeks of the bulk excavation, we will be finalising preparations for the start of construction. We are looking forward to starting the next phase of our project and will formally announce the successful head contractor shortly.

Contact Us

A dedicated project team is available to answer questions about the Innovation Centre project via:

• A free call project phone line: 1800 270 644
• Email: projectenquiries@loretokirribilli.com.au, or
• Mail: Loreto Kirribilli Project Enquiries, PO Box 302, North Sydney, NSW 2059