St Pats Library and Administration

St Pats is set on a 0.6Ha site in Fremantle heritage heart. With a small Year 1-6 population in old facilities, the school was limited to the traditional classroom model with poor staff facilities. This BER-funded project added just less than 160 sq.m. over two floors to revitalise the teaching, specialist areas, administration areas and staff facilities while maintaining a sympathetic scale in the heritage milieu.

Project Details

Architects
Slavin Architect Pty Ltd

Address
8 Ellen Street, Fremantle WA 6160

Submitter
Murray Slavin

Cost
$2.13 M

Photographer
Ed Janes

Project Overview

The new library, staffroom and refurbished reception/administration were designed as part of the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program. The two storey building features a lift for universal access and alfresco reading deck off the library on the first floor. This provides views of Fremantle’s working port.

The building successfully blends with the original 1960s school and a new entrance facing Ellen Street creates an public face, which is vastly different from the inward facing schools of the past. Ellen Street, in turn was changed from a back lane to a street with frontage. The building also fits with the Fremantle bulk and scale and sits comfortably within a street.

Replicating the construction methods of the original school would be prohibitive, so the upper floor support is managed through the supports from the glazing system. Thermal performance is improved by increasing windows on the northern aspect, coupled with wide eaves. Use of louvres captures the Fremantle Doctor, our prevailing sea breeze.

The rear of the building blends well with the existing facilities, providing a seamless view in the play areas. The lift housing was encased in vandal-proof stainless steel.

Scheduling was crucial on this tiny site, where construction and the normal program needed to comfortably and safely co-exist. Early engagement of subcontractors and co-ordination through excellent three-way communication between school, architect and builder ensured a safe site

This project was completed one school term ahead of schedule and below budget.