Ariaply plywood played a key role in the innovative construction of Jordan Springs Primary School in Sydney. Today, the sustainable plywood panels used in this groundbreaking project continue to prove their durability and enduring excellence.
A trailblazing project
In 2019, the New South Wales Department of Education began what it touted as a new, more progressive era. The state was facing a surging student population. To meet this growing demand, they allocated $6.7 billion to fast-track the creation of more efficient learning environments.
To fulfil that goal, the Department of Education needed a sustainable, cost-effective strategy for the rapid construction of educational facilities. They wanted a way to refurbish or build entirely new public schools in just several months. These facilities had to be as sound and durable as traditional constructions.
Their first school construction project would be the $55 million new Jordan Springs Primary School in Sydney, north of Penrith. This school needed to accommodate up to 1,000 students within a short construction timeframe and emphasize durability, aesthetics, and functionality.
The architectural solution
The NSW Department of Education School Infrastructure division chose the Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) modular construction method.
The design and construction team, which included Modscape, Group GSA, and Richard Crookes Constructions, proposed this approach, which would reduce on-site building time by 50%. About 46 modules would be prefabricated off-site while another team simultaneously prepared the school grounds. The modules would then be assembled on-site for an easy and seamless integration.
This would allow them to quickly create 27 classrooms, a library, a school hall and various outdoor learning spaces.
Ariaply: the superior material choice
But beyond cost-effectivity and functionality, the new school also needed an aesthetic that could foster a vibrant and inviting learning atmosphere. To achieve this, the design team chose materials with both durability and inherent beauty.
They chose Austral Plywoods’ Ariaply panels for their exceptional sustainability and performance. Crafted from certified Queensland hoop pine (Australian Araucaria), the panels met rigorous environmental standards and featured a durable three-coat Blackbutt finish that enhanced longevity. Their addition to the school’s design would bring in the warmth and sophistication they sought.
A resounding success
Prefinished and ready-to-install, Ariaply panels minimised on-site work and improved the modular construction process’s efficiency. Their versatility in both interior and partial exterior applications allowed them to be used across ceilings, walls, and soffits, ensuring a cohesive aesthetic throughout the school.
The Jordan Springs Primary School was completed by July 2020. Assembly of the facilities took seven months while finishing touches and landscaping of the premises took another two months. The project exceeded traditional construction timelines and demonstrated how the modular construction method and sustainable materials like Ariaply can deliver high-quality, cost-effective educational facilities.
Today, Jordan Springs Primary School continues to provide a state-of-the-art learning environment with low maintenance requirements. In the wake of the Jordan Springs project’s success, other DfMA-built and hybrid DfMA NSW public schools have followed, ushering in a new era of sustainable school building for the state.
Get Cost-Effective and Sustainable Modular Solutions with FA Mitchell
At FA Mitchell, we understand the importance of combining sustainability, efficiency, and quality in construction. As a trusted wholesale supplier of Austral Plywoods’ Ariaply panels for New South Wales, we help architects, builders, and developers achieve outstanding results on time and within budget.
Contact us today to discover how Ariaply and our extensive range of other plywood products can elevate your next project. Sourced exclusively from Australian plantation forests accredited by the Engineered Woods Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA), we can help you meet the highest standards of quality and safety while building a more sustainable future.
