Reference designs

Access our reference design catalogues for teaching blocks and other parts of school buildings.

Reference designs are easily repeatable designs for teaching blocks and areas within a school that have specific requirements. For example, toilets, changing spaces and designs to support accessibility. They can be easily customised to suit school sites, educational needs, or existing buildings and have been shown to deliver good outcomes for learners and the Ministry as asset owners.

While they aren’t mandatory, they should be used as a starting point for school designs. Every school and school site is unique and we want to find the right solution for each school property project.

• Reference designs: school teaching blocks
• Reference designs: standard classroom block upgrades 
• Offsite manufactured buildings for new spaces at schools
• Reference designs: Toilets
• Reference designs: Universal bathroom

Reference designs: school teaching blocks

We have prepared a catalogue of school teaching block reference designs to share popular, successful and easily customised designs you can work with your design team to tailor to your site and educational needs.

Reference designs: school teaching blocks

Reference designs: standard classroom block upgrades

These reference designs provide guidance to upgrade standard classrooms to flexible learning spaces. Access and download the packages for your upgrade project.

Reference designs: standard classroom block upgrades

Offsite manufactured buildings for new spaces at schools

Learn about the process when you are to receive or need to procure an OMB, and the following maintenance requirements and conditions of keeping a building on your school site.

Offsite manufactured buildings for new spaces at schools

Reference designs: Toilets

The Toilet Reference Design Guide for New Zealand schools will help design teams and schools to design new toilets, and upgrade existing toilets. Access and download the guide to find information on our requirements and guidance for toilet design.

Reference designs: Toilets

Reference designs: Universal bathroom

The Universal Bathroom Reference Design Guide sets the minimum requirements for universal bathrooms; adherence with the specified requirements is required. The guide should be referred to when there is a need to provide safe and functional bathroom access for students who may have a wide range of physical or sensory needs.

Reference designs: Universal bathroom

Last reviewed: 24 November 2022 Has this been useful? Give us your feedback