Exemplo Constructions are proud to announce the successful delivery of another two education projects. What started as one project has grown into a genuine partnership, with two key upgrades recently completed: the Early Learning Centre (ELC) deck upgrade at Braemar House and the Morris Hall Playground redevelopment. Both were fast‑tracked, live‑environment projects, and both were delivered in a thoughtful and strategic manner that the School really valued.
Why Early Contractor Involvement made all the difference
A big part of the success story here was the procurement model.
Rather than a traditional tender, Melbourne Girls Grammar brought us in under an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and Design & Construct approach. This meant:
- We were involved from the very start, as the design was still evolving
- We could give real‑time buildability, cost and staging advice
- The School had full transparency with an open‑book approach
- We could confidently navigate unknown site conditions and tight deadlines
This approach ensured that there was a genuine collaborative approach from the beginning, with one shared focus – getting the best outcome for the school, students and neighbours.
ELC Deck Upgrade
Vital to the day-to-day functioning of the ELC, the deck provides a main meeting place and primary access point for the youngest Grammarians. Without it, the ELC simply couldn’t operate, which meant the project had to be delivered in the school holidays and open on Day 1 of term.
Working around this non‑negotiable deadline, we:
- Demolished the existing deck and ramps
- Installed new structural steel framing, concrete and drainage
- Delivered new Modwood decking and compliant handrails
- Prefabricated key elements off site to speed up installation
With sharp sequencing and comprehensive delivery partners, the project was successfully completed within the school holiday period, allowing the new and returning students a seamless start of term with a brand-new space to enjoy.
Morris Hall Playground – Play with Purpose
At Morris Hall, the brief was to create an outdoor space that feels fun, welcoming and true to the character of the campus.
With limited street access, a residential setting and lots of moving parts in the design, communication and flexibility were key. We:
- Planned deliveries and traffic carefully to keep the street moving
- Kept neighbours informed and disruptions to a minimum
- Adapted to late changes so the finished playground matched the School’s evolving vision
Working within a live environment, our team ensured that safety of staff, students and neighbours was a primary focus. Our team communicated extensively with the stakeholders to provide solutions to the evolving design, ensuring that the schools vision was achieved – to time and budget!
Thank you
A huge thank you to Melbourne Girls Grammar School – especially Owen Warlond and Carla Granozio – for trusting us with these important projects.
And a big shout‑out to our project team and subcontractors for their energy, flexibility and positive attitude. These kinds of outcomes only happen when everyone leans in together.
Visit the Exemplo Gallery to explore our other projects.
For further information, contact:
Lakshu Adaikalavan
[email protected]
03 8420 3508
