Iona College Provence Centre

Education
ClientIona College
LocationLindum (Wynnum), Brisbane, QLD
Delivery Method Design and Construct
COMPLETION DATE2021
Awards2022 Queensland Master Builders Award

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Tomkins delivered the Provence Centre at Iona College — a 2,500-seat capacity multipurpose indoor sporting and assembly facility on one of Brisbane’s most constrained school sites. Built under a Design and Construct contract for Iona College in Lindum, the facility provides two competition basketball courts, three volleyball courts including a show court, a court-level perimeter running track, gymnasium, commercial kitchen, general learning areas, staff rooms, changing rooms, foyer, storage and landscaping.

The completed building hosts major school events including assemblies, awards nights, presentation evenings and whole-school masses and provides the college with one of the most capable indoor sporting venues of any independent school in Queensland. The project was formally recognised with a 2022 Queensland Master Builders Award in the Sporting Facilities category.

The Provence Centre at Iona College is a purpose-built, multi-use facility designed to serve the full school community — from daily sport and physical education through to whole-school assemblies, award ceremonies and major community events. The facility seats 2,500 people and accommodates two competition-standard basketball courts, three volleyball courts including a dedicated show court, a court-level perimeter running track, and a fully equipped gymnasium with direct visual connection to the main hall below.

The timber sprung sports floor meets FIBA Level 1 basketball accreditation and Volleyball International FIVB recommended standards — a specification that positions the Provence Centre as a genuine competition venue. The building structure comprises 2,800m³ of reinforced concrete and 280 tonnes of structural steelwork, with a building envelope of acoustic panelling, roofing, cladding and glazing.

Construction within a live school campus presented significant logistical challenges. The student access path from Lindum Station ran directly through the site; Tomkins resolved this by installing a dedicated pedestrian link bridge, providing a safe segregated route for students throughout the build. The project was sequenced in multiple out-of-order stages to maintain campus access and minimise disruption.

The most complex construction challenge was the installation of three 50-metre structural steel trusses for the main hall. Each truss was fabricated in 10-metre sections and welded on site, before being lifted into position using three cranes simultaneously. The slab on ground was over-engineered to carry crane loads, and all structural concrete and blockwork elements required designed temporary propping until the steelwork and roofing were fully loaded.

Iona College set a 12 per cent local content target at project commencement. Tomkins exceeded this significantly, achieving 33 per cent local workforce and supplier engagement within a 10km radius and a further 20 per cent via direct affiliates of the school. Seventy-six local subcontractors and suppliers participated across tender and construction phases. Tomkins also delivered career pathways presentations to students and hosted on-site tours, enabling the school community to follow the construction journey from start to finish.

Early access was provided ahead of Practical Completion to allow the school to host the Confraternity Carnival — a rugby league event with 50 schools in attendance that had been postponed in 2020 due to COVID.

“
Tomkins exceeded our expectations, with 20% of all sub-contractor engagements awarded to Iona connected families and 35% of sub-contracts assigned to contractors within a 10km radius of the College. Working in an operating school environment has its challenges and Tomkins were very flexible with the College to ensure that school safety and student safety was the priority that it needed to be. We were extremely happy with the relationship and partnership that we enjoyed with Tomkins.
Susan Boban
Manager of Corporate Services, Iona College
Iona College Provence Centre main entry exterior with large Iona signage, students and contemporary education building facade built by Tomkins
Iona College Provence Centre full school assembly inside the large indoor sports hall with tiered seating and multi-court floor built by Tomkins
Iona College Provence Centre indoor sports court with basketball hoops, high-level glazing and polished timber flooring built by Tomkins
Iona College Provence Centre indoor volleyball court with tiered seating, black ceiling structure and 4178 wall signage built by Tomkins
Iona College Provence Centre gym with strength equipment overlooking the indoor sports court and Iona wall signage built by Tomkins
Iona College Provence Centre indoor running track beside the sports court with full height glazing and student activity built by Tomkins
Iona College Provence Centre canteen area with students gathered beneath the external covered awning built by Tomkins
Iona College Provence Centre architectural skylight detail with curved glazing and metal wall cladding built by Tomkins
Iona College Provence Centre illuminated entry facade at dusk with Iona signage and mature trees built by Tomkins

The Iona College Provence Centre delivers a world-class multipurpose indoor facility to one of Brisbane's most prominent independent schools. With 2,500-seat capacity, competition-standard sports courts certified to FIBA and FIVB international standards, a fully equipped gymnasium, and activated social and learning spaces, the building transforms how the school community gathers, competes and connects. Delivered on time and within budget — and recognised with a 2022 Queensland Master Builders Award — the Provence Centre stands as a landmark facility for the Iona College community and a demonstration of what Tomkins delivers in complex, occupied education environments.

  • Total seating capacity: 2,500 people
  • Two competition basketball courts — FIBA Level 1 accredited timber sprung floor
  • Three competition volleyball courts including a dedicated show court — FIVB recommended standard
  • Court-level perimeter running track
  • Fully equipped gymnasium with direct visual connection to the main hall
  • Commercial kitchen, general learning areas, staff rooms, changing rooms and storage
  • 280 tonnes of structural steelwork including three 50-metre steel trusses
  • 2,800m³ of reinforced concrete structure
  • Building envelope of acoustic panelling, roofing, cladding and glazing
  • Local content: 33% workforce and suppliers within 10km radius; 20% direct school affiliates
  • 76 local subcontractors and suppliers engaged across the project
  • Early access provided ahead of Practical Completion for the Confraternity Carnival

"From live campus to landmark building — Tomkins delivered Iona College a world-class venue with 33 per cent local workforce engagement and an award-winning result."

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