Magill Reception to Year 7 School

The redevelopment brief required an integrated solution to transform the existing campus comprising separate junior and primary schools into a Reception to Year 7 school under a single leadership model.

Project Details

Architects
Brown Falconer

Address
Adelaide Road Magill Adelaide, SA 5072 Australia

Submitter
Deb Auckland

Cost
$10.6 million

Photographer
Don Brice Photography

Project Overview

The design response focussed on supporting an integrated Reception – Year 7 campus:

• Create a single central welcoming entry point to the campus, connected with the local community
• Improved street presence and engagement with a single administration centre
• Provide an R-7 library as a central hub with easy access for community use
• Enhance the connections between existing built facilities
• Develop and define R-2 and 3-7 learning hubs
• Maintain and maximise available ‘green space’ and outdoor learning opportunities

The proposed new buildings have been considered as key ‘connectors’ between Learning Hubs and the local community. The new library/learning areas and administration building have been sited centrally between the existing junior primary and primary learning area buildings. The two buildings sit either side of a new public entry plaza featuring a series of overlapping canopies that lead through to the main verandah canopy linking new buildings to existing, with views through to the central ‘green space’ and casual recreation area.

Two working groups were established to plan the logistics of combining separate resources and staff teams associated with the library and administration areas. The design team met with the working groups periodically to review concepts, detailed design, colours and finishes selections. The design team facilitated visits to a number of recent redevelopment projects and Magill School staff discussed how these schools managed the amalgamation and design processes.

Key features that support the integrated Reception to Year 7 programs:

• Co-located library areas operate as a single shared space while defining areas for lower and upper primary students
• Enhanced connections between indoor and outdoor space; visually and physically
• Discrete specialist spaces available and connected to library (ICT) and learning areas (serviced learning area)
• Break-out withdrawal spaces available in both the library and learning areas
• Meeting and staff room in administration area provides opportunity and space for staff training and development, whole-of-staff gatherings and visiting professionals consulting space not previously available
• Opportunity to facilitate team teaching in new learning areas and multiple group activities by opening up to the learning commons