Nowra Anglican College Library

The project challenge was to convert and extend the old Junior School library to create a K-12 learning centre that houses the schools collection of books, magazines and teaching resources and which provides attractive learning spaces has been very successfully achieved.

Project Details

Architects
Midson Group Pty Ltd

Address
Corner West Bunberra Street and Princes Highway, Bomaderry, 2541.

Submitter
Peter Calf, Midson Group Pty Ltd

Cost
$ 1,984,700

Photographer
Matthew Hill Photography

Project Overview

The Building the Education Revolution [BER] programme provided the opportunity for Nowra Anglican College to consolidate its Library functions and resources at one location. The College wanted to create a ‘signature’ building reflecting its commitment to quality education. The clever amalgamation of new construction with an existing building, the central space of which was the former Junior Library, enabled a larger facility to be provided together with the opportunity for future expansion into adjoining spaces over time. The amalgamated building provides space for the College’s combined Junior and Senior book collection, areas for research study and reading, a classroom sized teaching/study space, smaller flexible seminar rooms, an Office/Workroom for the cataloguing and repair of books and Staff amenities. The existing building’s verandah has been commandeered to provide access to a new entry space which mediates between the old and new parts of the amalgamated building. The natural slope of the land provided the opportunity to create a basement storage area and external works included ramps, steps and covered ways linking the building with the rest of the campus. Space between two existing buildings has been utilised to maximise the footprint while recognising the implications of connecting to one of the buildings and being in close proximity to another. The design has respected the existing, but dated, buildings on the campus through the use of compatible roof form and colour and the use of matching brickwork but has differentiated itself by departing from a rigid rectilinear plan, by expressing itself as a two storey articulated form utilising expansive areas of glazing and the judicial use of natural stone to emphasise the angled wall leading to the new building entry. The pair of angled flanking walls and curved full height glazing of the southern façade contrast against the rectangular form of the upper storey, resulting in a distinctive and visually interesting built form. By the skilful amalgamation with an existing building and careful design of new work the result is an extremely cost effective use of the funding granted to the College through the BER programme.