Redlands Preparatory School Redevelopment

The Margaret Roberts Preparatory School is Redlands new Infants school facility being transferred from one campus to another. The project is comprised of administration, 10 classrooms, library, music room, multipurpose hall, carpark and extensive playground spaces.

Project Details

Architects
Gardner Wetherill & Associates Pty Ltd

Address
57 Murdoch Street, Cremorne, NSW, 2090

Submitter
Gardner Wetherill & Associates Pty Ltd

Cost
$9,170,000

Photographer
Simon Wood Photography

Project Overview

The new Infants School has been relocated to the Murdoch Street campus which is occupied by the existing Childcare facility, Primary School and Years 7 & 8 facilities. A master planning process was undertaken and existing building stock evaluated for suitability to be adapted. As a consequence the 1960’s teaching block was earmarked to be demolished. The redevelopment comprises a new two storey building for the Infants School with roof terrace and car parking underneath fronting Allister Street, a new multi-purpose hall with associated storage and amenities, a canteen and extensive recreation space and landscaping incorporating a grassed field, multi-purpose hard courts, play and lunch areas. The redevelopment integrates and links the Childcare, Infants and Primary schools along the street edge of the campus. This enabled the creation of an extensive and integrated “internal” open space with a large playing field, sports courts and adventure playground shared by all three school groups. The new Infants School building has been designed with a simple and efficient concrete structural system giving large open plan classrooms with light-weight partition and operable walls allowing flexibility for reconfiguration and adaptation over time. Glass facades to the east and west have been designed to allow natural daylight, cross ventilation and to maximize opportunities for staff supervision. The covered verandah is partially screened with vertical louvres which provide protection from the western sun, some privacy from neighbours, as well as providing the “sense” of a safe and secure enclosure for children traversing the verandah. A paved courtyard area adjoining the entry provides both a playspace, passive seating area, outdoor teaching area and a communal space for families to meet and greet their children and other families at pickup and drop-off times.