Howick Intermediate School required a new administration building that was to house the administration and staff functions for a growing school. The building was to additionally house a new staff room with meeting room facilities as well as new ablution and sick bay facilities for the children.

The building was to provide a new 'front' to the school that reflected ideas of quality, permanence and responsibility. It was to signal entry into what was a confused school gateway.

The existing school was built on two axis, reflecting the two boundary roads that join at the new building. The new plan reflects this, with a layout that is simple and coherent. The administration area including reception, waiting, senior management team and staff offices, is located at the front on the bottom level. An internal glazed street separates this from the new ablutions and sickbay. This internal street provides student access to reception without intruding on the more public areas.

The school board of Trustees view was that the building could reflect something of the schools history and context. The European Howick community was initially populated by the immigrant English and Irish fencible community in the 1800s. These immigrants were largely retired army personnel who were offered cheap land in return for their defense services to protect the early European settlers. They were settled in fenced communities. The new building is informed by notions of this early history - ideas of fortification, defense, fences and gateways are reflected in the architecture.

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