New $11m two-storey building set for construction at Hills Catholic school

A Catholic school is set to update its facilities, and knock down old ones, with a new $11m facility to expand their performing arts program.

Plans for the new building at St Francis de Sales. Picture: Supplied

An Adelaide Hills private school has submitted plans for a new $11m building in a “significant upgrade” of the facilities at the site.

Catholic School St Francis de Sales Mount Barker has submitted plans to demolish their existing building for year 9 and 10 classes and replace it with a two storey facility comprising eight general learning areas and three specialist arts spaces.

“This building is part of the college masterplan,” acting principal Paul Wadsworth said.

It will mean an expansion of the performing arts facilities at the school and will be linked to the current centre.

“It does create up-to-date contemporary learning spaces … and a direct link to our performing arts centre,” Mr Wadsworth said.

The project, which will include demolishing the old building, is set to begin in term 3 of this year, with completion scheduled for the end of 2024.

Mr Wadsworth said he was excited for the “opportunity to provide more space” for performing arts at the school which forms “an important part” of teaching and learning at the college.

And the new classroom spaces are planned to be “flexible”, Mr Wadsworth said.

Plans for the new building at St Francis de Sales. Picture: Supplied

“The new building will have more traditional classroom spaces but also breakout spaces that will allow collaboration between students and a number of retractable walls between classrooms.”

The $11m construction cost is set to be “largely” funded by the school, with the support of Catholic Education.

“We’re hoping to take advantage of some capital development grants through the federal government,” Mr Wadsworth said.

While construction is underway, year 9 and 10 classes will be relocated without disrupting learning.

“We have capacity in the classroom area at the school at the moment to facilitate normal classes.”

The new building will follow on from recent developments at the school including St Francis de Sales College and Alive Mount Barker Catholic Early Learning to year 6 which were opened in 2021.

It comes after a private school in Adelaide’s northwest has submitted plans for $25m in upgrades, which will increase its capacity by 150 students.

Mount Carmel College wants to revamp Pennington primary school campus with a new two-storey building to raise its capacity from 350 to 500 students.

The building at the Catholic school is set to include six general learning areas, a staffroom and a canteen among other developments.

The learning areas are expected to accommodate about 24 students each.