Auckland Grammar to Build State of the Art Classroom Block

Media release
Auckland Grammar to Build State of the Art Classroom Block

Launches biggest fundraising campaign in the school’s history

Auckland, 16 April 2014 – Auckland Grammar School, today announced the biggest fundraising campaign in the school’s history to help pay for a new state-of-the-art classroom block.

Headmaster Tim O’Connor says that the new $6.4 million classroom block, ‘Augusta 2015’, will receive Ministry of Education funding of $2.4 million.

“In true Grammar spirit this is an ambitious and audacious goal, but with the support of a tremendous community we will create an exceptional teaching facility that will be a legacy for generations of Grammar boys.

“The project is only partially funded so our Board of Trustees is canvassing the wider Grammar community to secure the balance of the block’s construction cost and raise around $4 million.

“Our new classrooms will aid interactions between teachers and students, which are critical to a young man’s academic and social development. These interactions are a foundation of the Grammar way,” says O’Connor.

The new block will be positioned in the heart of the school’s campus, connected to the historic Main Block and provide all weather protection for staff and students. It will contain 12 classrooms and three teaching resource rooms, over three levels and creates a campus style environment in the heart of the school.

It replaces outdated pre-fab classrooms sited at the far end of the school on the corner of Mountain Road and Clive Road and will free up the pre-fab site for alternative purposes and provide more teaching time as students and teachers won’t have to walk to and from an area known as the “O Zone”.

As part of the development the Auckland Grammar campus will become a 100% pedestrian environment, providing significant health and safety benefits. Demolition works will commence over the Easter break, construction is expected to start in June and final completion is targeted for the end of Term One, 2015 (early April).

O’Connor says that Auckland Grammar is committed to providing a state-of-the-art learning environment to benefit its young men and staff.

“Quality resources help our school to attract and retain the best teachers, and continue our focus on academic excellence. The new block will facilitate modern teaching practices using the latest technology and support the Auckland Grammar vision of pre-eminence in boys’ education.

“The board and staff of Auckland Grammar School are very excited and proud of the potential of this new development and what it will mean for our students.”

Donations and gifts to the project are tax deductible.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Augusta 2015 new classroom block build cost $6.4 million
• Government funding $2.4 million, Auckland Grammar fundraising expected to provide the balance of the build cost (approx. $4 million)
• The new block will improve interactions between teachers and students
• 12 state-of-the-art classrooms and three teaching resource rooms over three levels
• Centrally located in the heart of the Auckland Grammar campus and connected to the Main Block, providing all weather protection for staff and students
• Demolition in Easter 2014, completion in April 2015
• Replaces outdated pre-fab classrooms sited on the corner of Mountain Road and Clive Road, freeing up that site for alternative use

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