$25m ‘state of the art’ upgrade to Mount Carmel College Catholic School to increase capacity by almost a third

An Adelaide private school has put in plans for a huge $25m redevelopment – including a new two-storey building to increase its capacity by 150 students. See the plans.

Plans have been submitted to build a two-storey building at Mt Carmel College that will allow the school to take in 150 more students. Picture: Supplied

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.

Mount Carmel College principal John Konopka said the new building forms part of the second stage of upgrades totalling $25m.

The first stage, costing $6m, saw the expansion of the Western Technical College completed in 2022.

The new building will provide “state of the art” classrooms and breakout spaces for students in years 5 and 6.

Plans have been submitted to construct a two-storey building at Mt Carmel College that will increase the number of students at the school by 150. Picture: Supplied

The new canteen is being built “to cater for the increased enrolments” the school is expecting.

“It is hoped to have building work start in the last quarter of this year, with the building ready for use at the start of the 2025 school year,” Mr Konopka said.

Public consultation on the application, made by Catholic Education South Australia with Edge Architects, for the new building ends on July 27.

The school is also set to see work begin “shortly” on a new multipurpose gynamsium and hall, part of their second stage of their building program, which is expected to be completed by early 2024.

A carpark will also be built to service the expansion.

Mr Konopka said the introduction of the new building projects at the school will create more pathways to university.

Plans have been submitted to build a two-storey building at Mt Carmel College that will allow the school to take in 150 more students. Picture: Supplied

“The building projects will cater for the increased demand for places in the College, which is well placed to service the demand for traditional pathways to university.”

It will also provide trade training for students hoping to work in defence with submarine and frigate projects at Osborne, just a 10-minute drive away.

It comes after Mount Carmel College amalgamated with Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish School, a reception to year 6 facility at the start of 2022.

The college now has three campuses, a primary school at Pennington, a secondary facility at Rosewater and the adjoining third campus of Western Technical College.

“Parents have expressed a strong desire for R-12 in one school and now Mount Carmel College provides a pathway from primary, through secondary … all as part of one college,” Mr Konopka said.