Mount Waverley Secondary College – Junior Campus

This project saw the redevelopment of an existing primary school into a years 7 and 8 junior campus for Mount Waverley Secondary College. The campus provides students with engaging facilities that enable a multi-disciplinary communal approach to learning and supports students in their transition from primary school to secondary school.

Project Details

Architects
Wayne Stephens, ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects

Award
Winner Category 1B: New Construction – Major Facility

Address
145 Stephensons Road, Mount Waverley, Victoria, 3149

Submitter
ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects

Cost
$8,314.340

Photographer
Nicole England

Project Overview

The Junior Campus is one of Mount Waverley Secondary College’s two campuses. It is located on a major road and the site is a former primary school that now accommodates Year 7 & 8 students. The existing facilities were undersized for the schools needs and a major redevelopment of the site was proposed as part of the school’s current masterplan. This project has seen the redevelopment of the entire site for a long term enrolment of 600 students, creating purpose built learning neighbourhoods and specialist facilities that address the specific needs of junior secondary students as they transition from primary school to the middle/senior secondary years. The design has addressed the challenges of the existing site which includes a six metre fall from the front to back of the site as well as noise and student safety issues generated by a major road at the front of the site. The Junior Campus project was delivered in stages and has provided a range of learning facilities. The project included the development of a new combined administration and learning community building which provides a welcoming entry to the school, a new combined Resources and learning community building that shelters the student areas of the school from the busy road, a new central landscaped plaza, and the refurbishment/expansion of an existing two storey building creating a specialist facility which houses sciences, visual arts, performing arts, materials technology, food technology and canteen. A key design objective was the creation of learning neighbourhoods and specialist facilities that support the college’s pedagogical approach. Facilities include multipurpose labs integrated into the learning neighbourhoods, learning commons that accommodate 50 – 75 students working collaboratively, quiet spaces for small group work / individual learning, centralised staff workspaces for enhanced student connectivity, flexible science facilities, integrated visual arts, Integrated Resource Centre providing class spaces as well as seminar spaces and quiet reading areas, and Performing Arts facilities.