Brigidine College, St Ives

Some buildings carry more than history – they carry meaning. The old convent at Brigidine College St Ives had stood since 1959, a cornerstone of the school’s identity and the home of its founding sisters. Transforming it required not just construction skill, but genuine care.

Prime Projects was appointed to convert the heritage convent into a vibrant contemporary learning environment – a project that was as much about what to keep as what to create. Designed by Fulton Trotter Architects, the $4.2 million adaptive reuse balanced historical preservation with the demands of a modern school campus.

The structural challenges were considerable. Load-bearing walls were removed to open up the internal fabric of the building – a complex demolition exercise requiring careful temporary propping of the existing structure to maintain integrity throughout. New general learning areas, staff rooms, a staff lounge, and breakout spaces emerged in their place. Verandahs were added. Accessibility was upgraded. Extensive landscaping wove the building back into the life of the campus.

Tight site access added another layer of complexity – resolved by Prime Projects through the construction of a dedicated temporary access road and staging area, allowing excavation and new construction works to proceed in parallel without compromising safety or programme.

Recognised with a 2014 MBA NSW Excellence in Construction Award, this project stands as a benchmark of Prime Projects’ ability to deliver sensitive, complex refurbishments – where respect for the past and precision in the present combine to create something truly lasting.