Delivering Victoria’s New Schools Bundle B program required precision, repeatability and disciplined co-ordination across multiple sites. Spanning regional growth corridors, the project required strong program control, consistent construction methodologies and embedded quality systems, an environment where Hutchinson Builders leveraged its education infrastructure experience to deliver certainty at scale.

Maintaining alignment across geographically dispersed sites was fundamental to the project’s success. “The program was managed through regular weekly assessments with site teams and subcontractors to track progress and ensure key milestones were being met,” Project Manager Joe Sollis explained. “This allowed potential issues to be identified early and addressed before they impacted the overall schedule.”

Sequencing efficiency was strengthened by Hutchinson Builders’ prior delivery of similar bundled school projects. “Having completed these types of schools many times before meant there was a strong understanding of how the works should be staged and co-ordinated,” Joe said. That familiarity enabled works to be sequenced efficiently and consistently, reinforcing productivity and quality across all campuses.

Quality control was embedded through rigorous Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs), with subcontractor ITPs enforced and Hutchinson Builders implementing its own processes in accordance with the HB Quality Manual.

Past experience informed a proactive risk approach. “Areas that had caused issues previously were given additional focus during design reviews and construction,” Joe said. Targeted workshops with subcontractors and consultants addressed these risks early, reinforcing compliance standards before works progressed. This structured oversight ensured consistent build quality across sites, regardless of regional complexities.

Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) principles refined the construction methodology. Several buildings transitioned from traditional timber framing to light gauge steel framing to improve repeatability and sequencing predictability.

“Light gauge steel allowed faster and more predictable sequencing on site and removed common timber-related inconsistencies,” Joe said. The shift delivered improved dimensional accuracy, reduced rework and streamlined workflows. By standardising structural systems wherever feasible, Hutchinson Builders replicated proven construction methods across the bundle, strengthening program certainty and consistent quality outcomes.

“In several locations, the surrounding road infrastructure was still being developed, which made access to site more difficult and required additional planning around deliveries and plant movements,” Joe said.

These challenges were mitigated through early trade engagement, progressing shop drawings ahead of schedule and carefully sequencing deliveries to avoid congestion. Finishing works were advanced in parallel where possible to reduce end-of-program pressure.

“By planning logistics early and maintaining strong co-ordination across all parties, we were able to manage access limitations, maintain progress on site and ensure build quality was not compromised,” Joe explained.

Designed by Architectus, the schools prioritised flexible, contemporary learning environments. Maintaining design intent while ensuring practical buildability required disciplined collaboration. “Detailed shop drawing reviews, regular design co-ordination meetings and fortnightly architect site walks allowed design intent to be reviewed on site and issues resolved early,” Joe said.

A prototype modular building was constructed early to test key performance benchmarks, including airtightness, acoustics and watertightness. Once validated, this benchmark informed delivery across the program.

Off-site manufacturing of joinery and selected components removed elements from the critical path, improving quality control and streamlining installation sequencing. “Building similar types of schools repeatedly allowed methods, sequencing and details to be refined each time. What was learned on early buildings was quickly carried through to the next ones,” Joe explained.

The New Schools Bundle B program demonstrates Hutchinson Builders’ capability in delivering multi-site education infrastructure across Victoria, where structured planning, DFMA integration and collaborative discipline drive consistency, efficiency and long-term quality outcomes.

For more information contact Hutchinson Builders, 70-72 Cecil Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205, phone 03 9282 9500, website
www.hutchinsonbuilders.com.au