St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College

A proud addition to the Catholic Diocese of Auckland school network

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Faith-based education for a growing community

St Ignatius of Loyola is the first Catholic secondary school to be built in South Auckland in over two decades, and the first school in Aotearoa New Zealand to join the Jesuit Education Australasia global network.

In planning for more than 25 years, the co-educational school is the result of a significant collaboration between the Catholic Diocese and the communities of Pukekohe and South Auckland. The design reflects the rich tradition of Catholic architecture with brick-clad buildings and interconnected colonnades arranged around a central courtyard, while incorporating best practices in contemporary learning environments. As a response to the anticipated growth in Drury, the school represents a substantial long-term investment in the town’s future.

Jasmax led the development of the masterplan for the greenfield site, strategically selected for its proximity to rapidly growing residential areas and planned public transport links. The masterplan will be completed in three stages, ultimately delivering 48 learning spaces to accommodate 900 students. Stage 1, designed by Jasmax and opened in 2024, supports an initial enrolment of 470 students across Years 7 – 9 and includes comprehensive religious and educational facilities. Subsequent phases will expand capacity to accommodate Years 10 – 13, adding a sports gymnasium, additional science and arts teaching spaces and a school café. The masterplan also designates space for a future primary school.

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St Ignatius of Loyola College Masterplan

Flexible, future-focused learning environments

Stage 1 comprises two main buildings: a four-storey teaching block connecting to a chapel for mass and prayer combined with a multipurpose hall and music suite. The teaching block features two atria that draw natural light into the building and create visual connections between learning spaces. Within it are specialist facilities for materials technology, science, computer studies, music, drama and food technology, as well as a library, social staircase for informal learning and interaction, and resource and administration areas. The chapel is prominently positioned at the campus entrance, reinforcing the school’s Catholic identity.

While the Diocese prefers a cellular classroom approach for teaching, it also recognises flexibility may be needed to accommodate future curriculum and pedagogical shifts. A variety of learning settings, including cellular classrooms with large, interconnecting sliding doors enable spaces to expand into open, collaborative environments if needed.

Sustainability and environmental regeneration

The once-rural site is characterised by well-drained volcanic soils and waterways, inspiring a landscape design focused on environmental regeneration. In collaboration with local iwi, Ngāti Tamaoho and Ngāti Te Ata, the design team prioritised the restoration of local streams with native planting to re-establish natural wetlands around the site’s periphery.

To reduce long-term operating costs for the Diocese, thermal energy modelling was used to optimise the design and layout. Buildings are orientated to create a sunny, sheltered outdoor courtyard that protects students from prevailing south-westerly winds. The thermal performance of the façade has been maximised, and natural cross-ventilation is provided through operable windows where suited.

The school operates independently, with its own water supply, wastewater treatment, communications, and roading infrastructure. This complexity required early collaboration with specialist engineering teams to integrate commercial-scale infrastructure on site.