Marian College gets new classrooms | Photos

The project is being funded by a capital grant from the federal government with contracts for the work signed on Friday.

The grant will see four new classrooms built around the St Mary’s Hall, which was the first part of the original school, when it was built in 1887.

It was built to ease overcrowding in classrooms in 1864 and was taken over by the Brigidine sisters in 1889.

College principal Carmel Barker said the design was carefully considered so balance the new buildings with the old hall.

“I think they have done well to make the shape of the design do the hall justice,” she said.

“They have been able to design the classrooms in a way that will not interfere with the hall while utilising the open spaces that it will offer both students and teachers.”

Mrs Barker said she was excited to have contracts for the works signed on Friday.

“It has been a long process of planning and developing and working towards this point,” she said.

“So it was great to make it all official today.

“Once you start to build the kids get excited about it as well.”

The new classrooms will replace portable classrooms being used by students.

They are expected to be completed by September 2017, but Mrs Barker said the school is already considering how best to use the new buildings.

“We have already started planning on how we will use the space during classes,” she said.

“And how we can take full advantage of the extra space that is available to us.

“It will give teachers a bit more flexibility in how they plan their classes to keep the students interested.

“We have not made a final decision but I expect it will be year nine students who will get the most use from it.

“Those kids often love creative and innovative lessons when they are sometimes hardest to keep engaged during classes.”

Works on the project will start on November 14.