New school set to open

Construction at Monte Cecilia Catholic School is almost complete.

The first of four new Auckland Catholic schools is near completion.

Monte Cecilia Catholic School principal Michele Mill said that after more than a century on its Hillsborough site, the school would move to a new site and new buildings next year.

Auckland Council bought land from the Catholic Church for Monte Cecilia Park.

The existing school is near the historic Pah Homestead.

ASC Architects designed all five new buildings.

"From 2016, we will be located further along Hillsborough Rd and onsite with our Parish, St John Vianney. On the new site, we will be housed in a state of the art, beautiful, brand new, modern school building," Mill said.

Project architect Shannon Jeory said ASC had been involved with the replacement school since 2011.

The new buildings are designed to achieved a Green Star rating if one is applied for, Jeory said.

"They have been designed to achieve passive ventilation, so they won't have airconditioning.

"They will have good daylight levels and rainwater can be harvested. We've designed a productive garden area for vegetables and fruit trees," she said.

The three other new Auckland Catholic schools are at Drury, Riverhead and Takanini.