Aesthetic Accessibility Solution for Cambridge High School

The $12.4 million new classroom block at Cambridge High School stood as an exciting and much-needed project constructed by Livingstone Builders.

The addition caters for more than 370 students and features 15 new classrooms including spaces for Music, Art, Whare Tautoko and Careers and Gateways departments. Jocelyn Mikaere, deputy secretary for the Ministry of Education’s Te Tai Whenua (central) region, said Cambridge High School had, “seen an upward trend of consistent growth over the past 10 years when compared to other high schools in Waikato”. The block was specifically designed for the school’s rapid roll growth while allowing for necessary weather-tightness work on other school blocks.

Moddex proudly contributed to the project by supplying our balustrade systems in a powder coated black, ensuring safety and accessibility on the access ramps and balcony.

Industrial and Architectural

While ensuring safety and compliance at height were undoubtedly crucial aspects of this project, aesthetics also held significant importance. The rear exterior wall features art by Ngāti Korokī Kahukura artist Eugene Kara, which was sandblasted into the concrete using metal stencils.  Blending in with industrial and architectural elements of the building’s exterior, our Connectabal commercial balustrades, supplied in a powder coated black were a complementary design feature of the block. They blended seamlessly into the aesthetics of the building and surrounding hardscape – whilst eliminating falls from over one metre for public use areas.

Ensuring F4 Safety From Falling: Conectabal Commercial Balustrades for Access Stairs & Balconies

Working in collaboration with Livingstone Builders and the Architect, Moddex advised as to system types to best suit the application and meet compliance to the New Zealand Building Code. Moddex Conectabal Commercial Balustrades (CB10 and CB40) were selected for installation on stairways and balconies where fall dangers of over 1 metre, necessitating safety from falling balustrades.

By supplying a producer statement (PS1), Moddex offered evidence that the system was designed to adhere to the New Zealand Building Code, instilling confidence in the client regarding the compliance and safety of the balustrade for school students and staff.

The Moddex Conectabal balustrade system emerges as the ideal fit-for-purpose solution when mitigating or eliminating risks associated with falls from height in educational settings. 

"Thank you all for your hard work and belief we could finish this side of Christmas. Without all of you buying into Livingstone’s vision to deliver the project before Christmas we wouldn’t have succeeded. MoE are delighted, as are the school staff and students." - Alasdair MacLennan, Project Manager at Livingstone Builders