If you are considering a new covered outdoor learning area for your school, one of your main concerns may be how much a COLA shelter costs. These all-weather shelters are ideal for all manner of school activities, providing year-round protection from the elements.
In this article, we outline the costs and considerations for building a new COLA at your school. With this information, you can complete the budget and master plan, equipped with all the necessary insights to make an informed decision.
A school COLA is a covered outdoor learning area, creating a safe environment for students to learn and play. Time outdoors is critical for children's development, particularly in schools with an emphasis on sports and outdoor education. With a well-designed COLA shelter, students can be outside all year with protection from the harsh sun and wintery conditions.
COLA shelters are used for a wide range of school activities, including sports courts, assemblies, and lunch breaks.
The majority of school COLAs are built with permanent steel frames with large support columns. The roof can be made with metal, polycarbonate, or fabric shade sails.
Most COLA shelters are between 6 and 10 metres high, ideal for large sports courts or multipurpose learning areas. Remember to account for netball or basketball hoops!
The majority of COLA shelters have open sides, with a roof-only structure supported by vertical columns. This maximises airflow inside the COLA as well as shelter from the sun and rain.
At ABC Sheds, we design and build customised COLA shelters up to 60 metres clear span. This means there are no internal supports to obstruct the play area, maximising functionality and versatility.
A COLA shelter can be designed to meet the school’s needs. Careful thought should be applied, to ensure the shelter is future-proofed and versatile for a range of functions. In the article below, we outline five important considerations for installing a school COLA.
In most cases, a typical COLA shelter in Australia is built with a steel or aluminium frame, aluminium roof, and open sides. To help you plan your own COLA shelter and the associated budget, we’ve highlighted the core cost influences below, along with the average cost per square metre.
The location of your COLA has a significant impact on the cost, particularly if access could be an issue. If you want to cover any areas between buildings or narrow pathways, this will pose a challenge during construction and truck access.
The building span refers to the overall width of your COLA shelter. A wide span requires strong materials and supports, such as structural steel. This will generally cost more but will also eliminate the need for internal columns. To cover a basketball or netball court, the minimum length of the COLA would be 28 to 30 metres, making for a large shed span.
Concrete flooring is a hard-wearing and dependable option for schools, particularly popular for outdoor sports courts. Turf is another common choice, enabling year-round sports and a soft surface to sit on during lessons. However, if your budget is limited, these elements can be added later.
CHS (Circular Hollow Section) columns are used to support the COLA structure. Rounded columns are a popular choice in COLA designs as their smooth shape eliminates sharp edges, reducing injury risks.
In our extreme Australian climate, an insulated roof can dramatically improve the temperature under your COLA shelter. Not only will this support better learning, but it will also improve the health and well-being of both staff and students. We also recommend using acoustic lining to reduce noise reverberation.
To minimise the risk of birds nesting and flying around the COLA shelter, we recommend a bird-proof design with sheets covering the trusses. With nowhere for birds to nest or perch, you can limit the health risks associated with bird droppings, not to mention the distraction for students trying to learn!
Additional features can be added to your COLA, such as awnings, gable infills, skylights, lighting, and guttering. While these will generally increase the construction cost, they will also improve your COLA’s functionality and maximise the investment.
Another cost driver is the installation, which usually takes place after school hours and often works around existing courts and equipment.
In an operational school environment, construction projects must be carefully planned to minimise safety risks. When building a COLA, you maybe need to install temporary fencing to keep students out of the area. It may also be required that you hold inductions and enforce safety procedures.
Depending on specifications, the rough cost of a structural steel COLA is generally between $300 to $400 per square metre. However, this is heavily dependent on the location, dimensions, purpose, materials, and design.
Smaller COLAs can be done with UB rafters and columns, or even smaller ones could be RHS (Rectangular Hollow Section), which would bring the price down per square metre.
The following prices show how our prices are influenced by the size per square metre.
|
Size |
Price range* |
|
30m x 18m x 6m (one basketball court) |
$120,000 to $160,000 |
|
30m x 36m x 6m (two basketball courts) |
$250,000 to $350,000 |
|
18m x 18m x 5m |
$90,000 to $150,000 |
*Please note that these prices are indicative only and include GST and construction. However, these prices are based on a standard COLA shelter with no additional features or special engineering. For an accurate quote accounting for your specific needs, please ask the ABC Sheds team today.
At ABC Sheds, we offer fully galvanised structural steel frames to construct your school COLA. These structures can withstand even the harshest Australian weather conditions, along with the rough-and-tumble of school environments.
We handle all aspects of your project, completing your COLA structure on time and outside of school hours. We’ll handle everything for you so you can focus on running your school. For more information, download our free brochure or use the virtual shed building tool to design your ideal COLA.