A Building Fit for Purpose
31 Jul 2023
KEY SPEAKERS
- David Raphael, Principal at St Lucy’s School
- Caroline Hart, Architect at Stanton Dahl
On the 24 July 2023, St Lucy’s School in Wahroonga, Sydney welcomed delegates for the NSW Chapter LEA for a momentous event. The occasion marked the completion of the new primary facilities, aptly named the Domonic Centre, which signifies a significant step forward in providing inclusive education to students with disabilities.
Principal David Raphael, with heartfelt warmth, expressed the school’s commitment to offering thirteen years of safe, extensive, and caring education to its students. He emphasized that this extended education not only fosters hope for the future but also alleviates anxieties for families regarding their children’s education beyond primary school. The schools’ ambitious plan to evolve into a full K-12 campus is now underway, a testament to their dedication to providing seamless educational opportunities for all students.
The creation of the Dominic Centre was made possible with the collaboration of Stanton Dahl Architects, who overcame several challenges posed by the site, including the presence of heritage items, extensive traffic management requirements, and ensuring safety and security while designing resilient and functional buildings.
The primary school section of the Domonic Centre boasts 16 purpose-built classrooms, each accommodating nine students with three teachers per room. The centralized amenities block features ambulant unisex toilets with adult change facilities, catering to the diverse needs of the students. Withdrawal spaces located directly off classrooms provide quiet havens that can be transformed into active spaces for different activities or moments of relaxation. Additionally, covered and secure outdoor places were incorporated to further enhance the learning environment. The future high school development will comprise of 12 classrooms with similar teaching-student ration and feature centralized amenities with a mixture of indoor and outdoor regulation spaces.
The project has not been without it’s challenges, including heritage considerations, engagement with neighbours, and ensuring robust, safe traffic management within the shared school community. However the team successfully overcame these hurdles to create an environment that promotes a sense of identity and pride among students while fostering a strong school community.
The Domonic Centre stands as a beacon of modernity and joy, a place where students can grow, learn and feel proud to be part of the St Lucy’s school community. The projects success also reflects the project teams commitment to not only the students; but also the wellbeing of school staff.
In conclusion, St Lucy’s School and Stanton Dahl Architects have achieved a remarkable milestone with the completion for the Domonic Centre. The centre embodies inclusivity, innovation, and forward-thinking approach to education, demonstrating how harmonious collaboration can create an environment where every student can thrive and shine brightly. We look forward to seeing the completion of the new secondary school.
Written by: Holly de Jong, NSW Chapter Committee member
Photographer: Stanton Dahl
