The third and final stage in the school’s expanded master plan will take its capacity from 650 to 900 pupils, making it one of the biggest primary schools in the country.
Principal Ben Witheford said roll growth was difficult to forecast because of the unpredictability of new residential development, but he expected it would take several years to reach full capacity.
Brosnan Construction started work last week on the 1428sqm building, which will extend along part of the school’s northern boundary.
It would accommodate two and a-half learning habitats, which were equivalent to 10 classrooms, Mr Witheford said.
The half habitat would be for new entrants, providing a ‘‘less daunting’’ space that would help them settle in to school life.
It would also house a small radio station studio and a TV/video suite.
The project includes a new 14-space car park for staff.
In other school building projects in Wakatipu, Arrowtown Primary is in the middle of an $11 million redevelopment to address its leaky building issues, while an expansion of Wakatipu High School is at the final design stage.
A primary school for up to 600 pupils at Hanley’s Farm, a new residential subdivision near Jacks Point, is expected to open in 2022.
