School set to get $12.2m learning complex after devastating fire

St Clair High students will soon have a new state-of-the-art complex - including theatre-style seating, a multi-sport court and new rooms - after a devastating fire in 2014

An artist’s impression of the new St Clair High School building. Supplied by NSW Education Department.

St Clair High School will finally get a new state-of-the-art, $12.2 million two-storey learning centre to replace and surpass the building destroyed by fire two years ago.

The new building bears a strong resemblance to a university campus. The area where the old building stood will have a multi-sport court and a landscaped terrace.

The major learning centre was destroyed by the fire. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

The 2014 fire devastated the close-knit school community. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

The damage was extensive.

Some 30 classrooms, staffrooms and the school library were destroyed in June 2014 after a fire broke out during the holidays.

Students have since been working out of about 20 demountables. An Education Department spokesman confirmed the development application for the university-style facility had been given the go ahead and construction was expected to begin mid-2017.

“The new building will include 16 permanent classrooms, a research area, a lecture theatre, staffroom, four outdoor decks, and a commercial-style teaching kitchen,” the spokesman said.

“The project will also provide a tiered, outdoor seating area. The existing games courts will be replaced with a full-sized double games court.

“Construction is anticipated to commence in mid-2017 and forecast to be completed by late 2018.”

Students have worked out of demountables for years.

St Clair High School principal Chris Presland said the architects had worked with students, parents and staff to finalise the building’s design.

“The architects worked with the students to try to capture what they saw as a good learning environment,” he said.

“They were really excited when they realised the government was prepared to fund all this for them.”

St Clair High School principal Chris Presland with captains at the time Abdullah Jat and Janet Tefaili.

Mr Presland said the process had been a long but necessary one. “It’s been a huge journey,” he said. “It has been a frustrating process and that’s not a criticism on anyone. We could have had the school rebuilt by now but we were not prepared to accept an old-fashioned building being rebuilt.

“What was there before were conventional little box classrooms with problems. What’s being built is about twice the value of what was lost.”