Kyeemagh Public School Upgrade

The Project

Kyeemagh Public School received a comprehensive upgrade through Schools Infrastructure NSW, new flexible learning spaces, a library, a multi-purpose hall, covered outdoor learning areas, new amenities, a canteen, and staff and administration facilities. Designed by DWP Architects, the campus is distinguished by its origami-inspired rooflines, angular folded metal forms that lift and cantilever above the brick buildings, giving the school a strong architectural identity in this inner southern Sydney suburb.

The Challenge

The project required State Significant Development Application (SSDA) approval, which is a more demanding planning pathway involving an Environmental Impact Statement, extensive community consultation, and assessment by the NSW Department of Planning. Managing that process while maintaining the school community's confidence and keeping the programme on track required careful coordination. The site's proximity to Botany Bay also brought flood, contamination, and environmental constraints into the planning and due diligence process. And because this was a live school environment, getting the right builder was critical, not just for construction quality, but for managing the impact on students and staff during the build.

My Approach

I managed the full SSDA process for Schools Infrastructure NSW, overseeing preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement, coordinating community consultation, and shepherding the statutory planning pathway through to development consent. In parallel, I led the tender assessment and contractor procurement, evaluating builders against the specific demands of delivering a complex upgrade on a live school campus. That process resulted in Taylor Construction Group's appointment, with DWP carrying the design through to construction completion in March 2022.

The Outcome

The completed upgrade has transformed Kyeemagh Public School into a contemporary learning environment. The flexible spaces support everything from independent study to collaborative group work, and the new hall, library, and outdoor areas give students and the wider community a range of high-quality amenity. The nature-based playground and naturalistic landscaping complement the building's strong architectural character. This project sharpened my ability to manage complex planning approvals while running a parallel procurement process, two workstreams that need to land in the right sequence, or the whole programme stalls. That discipline around sequencing and stakeholder management is something I apply to every project at Yaxley Studio.