Farrell Construction was appointed as Main Contractor for the 18-month project at St Bede’s College. The works comprised a gymnasium extension and seismic strengthening, alongside the construction of the new "Grimes" classroom building - a significant addition to the college's commercial construction footprint.

The programme was delivered through one of the wettest winters on record, requiring complex foundation remediation with the gym's 15-metre screw pile foundations sitting below the water table. Managing works in these conditions required close collaboration with the structural engineer to maintain stability and ensure programme certainty. At the same time, Farrell carried out seismic strengthening at heights of over nine metres, all while the gym remained in daily use. Operating safely within a live environment construction framework demanded fastidious planning, proactive risk management, and constant communication to protect the 1,000+ daily campus users and the project timeline.

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We deployed our own in-house carpentry team across all trades to ensure high-quality work package delivery. This disciplined approach to safety and coordination enabled successful delivery of a modern, resilient facility. The result supports the College’s educational needs, while standing as a testament to Farrell’s capability as a leading Main Contractor in Christchurch for high-scrutiny, complex structural projects carried out in a live environment construction setting.

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