West End State School (WESS) received the keys to its brand new learning centre following the completion of Stage 1 of its $25 million expansion. Principal Kim McNamara received the keys during the handover ceremony on 10 Aug 2020 from South Brisbane MP Jackie Trad.
Representatives of Cox Architects and Hutchinson Builder were also present during the handover. The school community collaborated with these builders for the design and planning of the school’s expansion.
The new learning centre, dubbed the L Block, is a three-storey building with 16 learning spaces, spacious outdoor areas and a new pick-up/drop-off zone.
Ms McNamara said that the completed section will help the school keep the students actively engaged in learning. Both the teachers and the kids have been keenly looking forward to using the facilities by the end of August.
Education MP Grace Grace also congratulated the school community for its new facilities. The construction and completion went ahead and made 100 jobs available to locals despite the threats of the coronavirus.
“This $25 million expansion has given students more room to play and learn,” Ms Grace said. “More than 300 Preppies & Year 1 students will move into the building at the end of August.”
Meanwhile, the construction of Stage 2 is up next, according to Ms Trad. The project has an estimated 2022 completion.
“Our government will be delivering the Stage 2 Expansion at WESS! This will see the construction of an additional learning centre, administration and library building, Performing Arts Centre and more greenspace,” the MP posted on Facebook. “This is huge news for our school community and something I have worked hard to deliver, alongside parents, staff and students. It’s also a vital investment that will create more Queensland jobs for construction workers and tradies as we unite and recover from COVID-19.”
The school’s expansion is critical to the growing number of enrollees year after year. The state’s Department of Education acquired additional properties adjacent to the old WESS to accommodate the needs of the school community.