Introduction
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The New South Wales Department of Public Works has behind it a background of well over a century of experience in the field of building construction.
It has long been a basic policy of the Department to support innovative techniques which hold promise of advantage in wide range of public buildings that the Department constructs.
Probably the most spectacular of the new techniques adopted by the Department in recent years is the construction of a series of concrete shell dome utilizing a method devised by an Italian architect, Dr. Dante Bini.
Late in 1973, the Department decided to undertake the initial construction of ten domes using this technique. The decision was taken following a visit to Italy by a senior departmental architect who studied the feasibility of introducing concrete shell dome construction into the State's school building programme.
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The Department engaged Dr. Bini as an architectural consultant to design, direct and train staff of the Department in all aspects of constructing the domes.
The programme has proved a challenging one to all concerned and has created widespread interest throughout the building industry and among those interested in the development of new concepts in education.
Jack Ferguson
Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Works
November, 1977