Prolam Visual Beams form a defining feature of Karori Normal School’s façade – delivering structural strength and architectural impact for this contemporary learning community. 

As part of a major redevelopment project, Karori Normal School has welcomed a new two-storey teaching block, housing eight modern classrooms. The build was part of a masterplan developed by Stephenson & Turner to reflect the Ministry of Education and the Karori Normal School’s shared vision for a contemporary built environment that enhances learning, and connection with the local culture and community. 

Visual PL12 H3.2 Beams were used to construct frames at the edge of a covered deck that forms the building’s striking façade. Designed and specified by engineers, the timber frames support translucent panels that provide shelter and protection from Wellington’s famously windy weather, while maintaining a sense of openness and light. 

The choice of Prolam glulam beams was critical in achieving both form and function: structurally strong to withstand Wellington’s challenging wind conditions, while also delivering the straightness, stability and refined finished needed for a highly visible architectural element. 

Supplied in a sanded and sealed finish, the beams combine lasting performance with a clean, natural look that complements the school’s architectural theme of a “forest canopy”. For Watts & Hughes Construction, Prolam’s appearance and durability set it apart: “It doesn’t bow like other timber in the market. It’s long-lasting, straight, and true – and it will stay there forever”.

The result is more than just a new classroom block. The project has given Karori Normal School a formal entrance and a welcoming ‘meet and greet’ space for tamariki, whanau, and the wider community. Cultural narratives are embedded in the design, while sustainable choices like glulam timber help ensure the building will serve generations to come. 

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from the school, Board of Trustees, Ministry of Education, teachers and students alike. Prolam beams played a small but significant part in creating a contemporary learning environment that stands proudly as a benchmark for educational architecture in Aotearoa.

“The building's textural yet refined façade creates a visual and physical connection with the community while providing a sense of shelter and security for the tamariki.”
-    Stephenson & Turner Architects

Images courtesy of Hazel Redmond Photography.