New hospitality facilities open
Otago Polytechnic has opened its new hospitality school facilities at the Student Centre in Harbour Terrace.
The $4.2 million project is part of the polytechnic’s plan to bring its schools, which were scattered around Dunedin, together in one location. The hospitality school was previously located in Tennyson Street.
The project was designed by Oakley Gray Architects, with the Project and Construction Management by Arrow International.
The existing Harbour Terrace building was extended by 376sqm and its interior refurbished, the student cafeteria, office spaces, main foyer, sprinkler and smoke control systems, plumbing, and some lighting were upgraded.
A commercial kitchen, two training kitchens, a training restaurant and bar, a cafeteria preparation area, a second commercial cafe, four chillers and a freezer room, storage areas, student common room, student study area, toilets will all be added to the new centre.
Project Manager, Brian Shea said there were a few challenging aspects to the project.
“The main point of difference being the creation of four commercial kitchens in one building, two training kitchens with work spaces for 32 cookery students, a commercial kitchen to service the new 100-seat training restaurant, and a preparation kitchen for the student cafeteria, said Mr Shea”.
Shea and Assistant Project Manager Tracey Howell worked hard to ensure the completion date was met and both believe creating a team atmosphere with the contractors and having their buy-in to the programme were key to achieving a successful project for everyone.
Managing and creating a construction site within an operating polytechnic institute was another challenge for Shea, who says managing health and safety on an empty building site can be challenging at the best of times.
“There were several health and safety issues there, but we got the buy-in from the building users, we coordinated with those guys and formed a strong relationship with the polytech to create a team environment,” says Mr Shea.
Otago Polytechnic has a very comprehensive sustainability policy that is apparent throughout the design of the new hospitality school.
“One of the client briefs was to incorporate as many green features as possible. It was a balancing act, incorporating as many as we could while maintaining a realistic budget. We asked the Design Team to consider the green aspects and include them in their design where possible, these include energy efficient lighting, solar water heating, and water saving plumbing fixtures. We also completed thermal modelling and an energy audit to ensure we are getting the best efficiency we can from the design. A lot of the green aspects we’ve included are commonly used good trade practices,” says Mr Shea.
Other green aspects of the building are occupation sensors for heating and lighting, maximum use of natural light, passive ventilation system in kitchens, and use of recycled materials and fittings, including some kitchen appliances.
Semester two started mid July and 170 hospitality students are now using the new hospitality school.
Article and images courtesy of Arrow International