St Clare’s School, Tully

St Clare’s is a single stream primary school of some 180-200 pupils. This major building project was initiated under the Federal Government’s BER programme. The school applied the funding to a minor extension to its recently renovated library, a new WC facility, a new classroom and the subject of this submission: the conversion of an existing undercover area to a new performance arts centre and adjacent outdoor learning space.

Project Details

Architects
Total Project Group – Architects, Roger Mainwood

Award
Commendation – Category 2 Renovation/Modernisation of School/Major Faciity

Address
13 Mars Street, Tully Queensland 4854

Submitter
Roger Mainwood

Cost
$820,000 +GST

Photographer
Andrew Watson and Roger Mainwood

Project Overview

The school has limited open ground area and the inclusion of large new buildings initially envisaged by the BER programme was seen as an imposition on the school’s master plan.

A review of the schools building stock highlighted that the school had two significant undercover spaces: a smaller area some 25 years old and an adjacent larger area, approx. 15 years old. Conversion of the smaller space into a new performance arts centre provided a new expanded facility, centrally located on the site and within an achievable budget framework. 

St Clare’s has a long tradition of an annual fete and school event, pivotal in the Tully community calendar. The opportunity was to create the new performance centre so that it could function as a traditional multipurpose auditorium. Catering for music, dance, theatre, school gatherings and alternatively, literally opening up to reveal the auditorium which can become a stage itself, for much greater gatherings of 500 people or more seated on the sloping lawn forecourt for these annual community events.

Both the stage and auditorium include lighting bars, sound systems etc. to accommodate the school’s productions either within the building or with the side wall opened to these larger external events.

The expansion to the existing undercover area created an opportunity to provide an outdoor learning and play space between the new performance centre and the new classroom. With Tully ranking as the wettest place in Australia (up to 4.5 metres of rain/annum!) such a small area would likely become a trampled and muddy thoroughfare.

The hardstand finish of a grid paving pattern allowed for the celebration of collected rainfall from the main roof which then cascades down tiled flutes.

Working closely with the principal and staff, the area was “planted” with various primary coloured 3D geometric shapes and an oversized wall clock to promote both formal and informal interaction for students with time, space and water. This area has become known as the “Maths Garden” and is a well frequented gathering and learning place in the school.