Taupo-Nui-a-Tia College

Greenstone Group worked closely with the school and the project architects to create a new Design and Innovation Centre and to refurbish the existing gymnasium at Taupo-Nui-a-Tia College. The significance of this new and flexible teaching space for both staff and students, was acknowledged by Prime Minister John Key who opened the building in January 2012.

The school’s vision was to create a central hub, a “heart for students and teachers alike”, so as part of the design process Greenstone Group incorporated a large courtyard into the project. This hub, including the new Design and Innovation Centre, would support the curriculum and allow students of design and technology to move on to higher-level education in those areas.

Spanning over 2000m2 the Design and Innovation Centre serves a multi-faceted role within the school. It acts as a new focal point for the school, frees up land to create a new student commons area and is also a link between the gymnasium and the Centre. The Design and Innovation Centre is fully equipped to provide food technology, textiles, wood shop, metal shop, arts and computer technology education. All of this is focused around a two-storey high atrium which serves as a gallery, dining area and function room. A new two-storey entrance was also created along Spa Road, which provides frontage and a more progressive identity for the school.

As well as the Centre, the gymnasium was also refurbished, with the addition of a full-sized basketball court, offices, storage rooms, toilet facilities and a multi-purpose teaching space.

With the project management services provided by Greenstone Group, the completion of this education project has provided the school with a vibrant new atmosphere and higher quality teaching spaces to assist in leading the Taupo schooling community into the future.