CIMIC’s CPB Contractors Awarded Contract to Deliver East Perth Primary School
CIMIC Group’s CPB Contractors has been selected by the Western Australian Government to deliver the main works for the new East Perth Primary School, a major government-funded education project designed to provide contemporary learning facilities for students from kindergarten through Year 6.
The $165 million project will create a purpose-built primary school in Perth’s inner city, serving growing communities across East Perth, Northbridge and the Perth central business district. The four-storey facility is being designed to provide modern educational environments, flexible learning spaces and inclusive facilities that support students, teachers, families and the wider community.
The appointment marks a significant milestone for the project, following CPB Contractors’ involvement in the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase. Since being appointed to the ECI contract in October 2025, CPB Contractors has worked with the Western Australian Government to refine the project scope, develop the construction program and improve the overall delivery approach.
With the design and construct contract now awarded to CPB Contractors Pty Ltd, the project is moving into its main construction phase.
New Education Facility for Perth’s Inner City
The East Perth Primary School is planned as a four-storey building of approximately 10,500 square metres. Its vertical design responds to the requirements of an inner-city site while creating a range of dedicated learning, recreational and community spaces.
The development is intended to provide a contemporary school environment for children from kindergarten to Year 6. It will include learning areas designed to support different teaching methods, along with spaces that encourage collaboration, creativity and student engagement.
The school will also incorporate facilities for activities outside regular classroom hours, helping provide additional services to students and families in the surrounding communities.
CIMIC Group Chief Executive Officer Jason Spears said CPB Contractors has extensive experience delivering education facilities and building projects across Australia.
He said the new school would provide modern learning environments for students and families in East Perth, Northbridge and Perth’s CBD, while its sustainable design and inclusive learning spaces would contribute to new approaches to primary school delivery in Western Australia.
Construction Planning and Collaboration
CPB Contractors’ involvement during the ECI phase allowed the construction team to work with the Western Australian Government before the main works contract was finalized.
During this period, the project team focused on refining the design, improving constructability and developing a construction program that could support efficient project delivery. The collaboration also provided an opportunity to identify potential challenges and optimize project outcomes before the main works began.
CPB Contractors Managing Director Craig Nuttall said the project represents an investment in the future of Perth’s growing inner-city communities.
According to Nuttall, the ECI phase enabled CPB Contractors and the client to optimize design outcomes, improve constructability and provide greater certainty around project costs and delivery.
The company will now proceed with delivering the purpose-built school facility, with safety and construction quality forming key elements of the delivery program.
Four-Storey Vertical School Design
One of the defining characteristics of the project is its innovative vertical design. Instead of relying on a traditional low-rise school layout, the approximately 10,500-square-metre facility will extend across four storeys.
The approach is intended to make efficient use of the available inner-city site while incorporating learning areas, recreational facilities and landscaped spaces into the development.
The school will include a hall with music rooms, a canteen and out-of-hours school care facilities. These spaces are intended to support both the educational program and broader needs of students and families.
Outdoor facilities will include sports fields and hard courts, providing dedicated areas for physical activity and recreation. Extensive terraced landscaping will also form part of the project, creating outdoor environments within the vertically planned school campus.
Focus on Sustainability
Sustainability is a key consideration in the design and construction of the new school.
The project’s Advanced Standard design incorporates a combination of responsibly sourced steel and lower-carbon “green” concrete structures. These materials are intended to reduce the environmental impact associated with the construction of the facility while supporting the project’s sustainability objectives.
The building will also feature bespoke textured precast concrete and aluminium façades. Curved interior fit-outs will add distinctive architectural elements to the learning environment while contributing to the contemporary design of the school.
The combination of lower-carbon materials, considered construction methods and sustainable design principles is intended to support the Western Australian Government’s objectives for modern public infrastructure.
Inclusive Learning and Recreation Spaces
The new East Perth Primary School has been designed to provide inclusive environments accessible to all students.
Learning spaces will be supported by recreational facilities and landscaped areas, creating a balance between indoor education and outdoor activity. The design aims to provide students with different types of environments for learning, social interaction, physical activity and relaxation.
The inclusion of music rooms, sports facilities, hard courts and terraced landscaping will provide opportunities for students to participate in a broad range of educational and extracurricular activities.
The hall and out-of-hours school care facilities will further expand the school’s role in supporting families within the surrounding inner-city communities.
Supporting Perth’s Growing Communities
The East Perth Primary School project forms part of ongoing investment in social infrastructure to support communities experiencing growth and urban development.
For East Perth, Northbridge and the Perth CBD, the new facility will provide dedicated primary education infrastructure close to residential and commercial areas. Its vertical design and integrated facilities demonstrate how education infrastructure can be adapted to the requirements of densely developed urban environments.
With the main works contract now awarded, CPB Contractors will progress construction of the four-storey school, working with the Western Australian Government and project stakeholders to deliver the facility.
The $165 million development will ultimately provide a modern education campus combining learning areas, recreation, community-focused facilities and landscaped spaces. Once completed, the East Perth Primary School is expected to provide a long-term education asset for families and students in Perth’s growing inner-city communities.
Source Link:https://www.hochtief.com/
