Left to right:
Dan Fragg - Cairns Manager, Bryant Building Contractors
Lloyd Matheson - Cairns Catholic Education Services Building and Project Manager
Shane Watson – Manager of Project Services for the Catholic Diocese of Cairns
Roger Mainwood – Director, TPG Architects
Stage one of Catholic Newman College is underway after a start-up meeting with TPG Architects, Bryant Contractors and key representatives from Cairns Catholic Education’s planning team.
The four-level building of about 7000 sqm represents half of the final college footprint and will contain five design technology classrooms, four science lab classrooms, a library, administration area and an indoor PE court.
Year 7 enrolments for the 2022 opening are steadily building, with a school admissions office to take enrolments will open at Smithfield Shopping Centre on February 17. According to Cairns Catholic Education Services spokeswoman Dr Andrea O’Brien, the prospect of state-of-the-art facilities to deliver a design focused curriculum, along with the college’s colocation within JCU is stirring up much interest. “We had projected a total of about 750 students by 2027, but expressions of interest suggest we will exceed those figures” Dr O’Brien said.
It will be a busy year for TPG Architects who will project manage phase 1 due for opening in 2022.