Value

Established in 1961, The Forest High School has served Northern Beaches communities for more than six decades. Originally located at 135 Frenchs Forest Road, the site became part of NSW Government plans to densify and expand the emerging Frenchs Forest Town Centre precinct near Northern Beaches Hospital. As a result, the decision was made to relocate the existing high school to a new state-of-the-art campus at Allambie Heights, within the school’s existing intake area. The relocation forms a key component of the Frenchs Forest 2041 Place Strategy, intended to support residential growth, public transport, community infrastructure and employment around the hospital.

The development comprises seven interconnected buildings (Blocks A–G) housing administration, learning areas, science laboratories, performance spaces, and sports facilities. The campus is designed to accommodate a significantly expanded enrolment with the following:

- Capacity for ~1,500 students, nearly doubling the existing student cohort
- Flexible, contemporary classrooms and specialist learning spaces
- New library, canteen and administration facilities
- Multi-purpose sports and performance hall, outdoor courts and landscaped learning and recreation spaces
- Compliance with EFSG and accessibility standards across buildings and site infrastructure

We provided critical professional consultancy services on behalf of SINSW, supporting development and delivery through:

1️⃣ Crown Certification
We acted as Crown Certifier for the project, undertaking reviews of design and construction documentation against the approved planning pathway and relevant statutory requirements. Services included the assessment of works for compliance and the issuance of required compliance certificates at key stages of the project.

2️⃣ BCA Consultancy
We provided comprehensive Building Code of Australia advice, including clause-by-clause compliance assessments, fire and life safety reviews, and design input to support efficient and compliant delivery of a complex, multi-building secondary school campus.

3️⃣ Access Consultancy
Accessibility services were provided to support compliance with DDA, Disability Standards for Education and relevant Australian Standards, ensuring inclusive access across learning spaces, amenities, circulation routes and external areas.

The relocation drew public interest and engagement, especially regarding pedestrian safety around busy roadways and traffic planning at nearby intersections, highlighting the importance of coordinated design between education infrastructure and broader transport planning. Through engagement with SINSW, design teams, local councils and government stakeholders, the project reflects a collaborative approach to community integration, safety and future connectivity. Our input helped ensure that accessibility and compliance were integrated from concept stage through detailed design and contract administration interfaces with SINSW and ADCO.