CAE Independent Learning Centre

The co-location of CAE’s new workspace with a 21st Century Learning Environment enables interaction and collaboration between staff, educators and learners. By connecting the classrooms to independent learning settings and learning commons, a sense of belonging is established, promoting social interaction and self directed learning.

Project Details

Architects
Gray Puksand

Address
Mezzanine Level, 278 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000

Submitter
Mark Freeman

Cost
$3,345,000.00

Photographer
Peter Clarke, Latitude Group

Project Overview

CAE, Centre for Adult Education, has been in operation in Melbourne for over 60 years providing education to the community within the city centre. The institution is continually growing and evolving to meet the needs of its learners, who are from a wide range of backgrounds and age groups.

The CAE campus is embedded in the city’s laneways and as a result the organisation utilises city spaces as an extension of their classrooms. This concept of the “city as a classroom” formed a key component of the aspirational brief for the new space, while the functional brief identified the need for an Independent Learning Centre, 8 new Teaching Spaces and facilities for both Teaching and Executive Staff.

Developing the conceptual direction for the project began with the idea of the “city as a classroom” which was the basis of the aspirational brief from CAE. The project references ideas of connectivity, transformation and opportunity, which are a reinterpretation of the surrounding streets and laneways that form the CAE Campus.

The new learning centre is located on the mezzanine level of an existing city building which has limited access to natural light. This was further complicated by a deep floor plate, irregular column grid and in some areas, a low ceiling height. These existing conditions provided challenges in designing a 21st Century Learning Environment but also inspired key design decisions regarding planning, material selection and detailing.

Colour has been used throughout to identify functional areas and when combined with lighting and furniture design, allows spaces to seamlessly merge into one another. The controlled and bold use of colour aids way-finding through the internal spaces, while the vast expanse of glazing and natural light to the learning commons allows the external environment to blend with the interior.

The success of this project is demonstrated in a seamless transition between learning spaces. By connecting the classrooms to independent learning settings and learning commons, a sense of belonging is established which promotes social interaction and self directed learning.