Felixstow Community School

The Felixstow Community School was established in a refurbished building on the SA Department for Education and Child Development’s Eastern Regional office campus.

Project Details

Architects
Ken Mah Architects

Address
5-11 Briar Road Felixstow, South Australia 5070 Australia

Submitter
Department for Education and Child Development , SA

Cost
$1.2 million

Photographer
Spruik Photography – Ashley Turner

Project Overview

Refurbishment works of existing buildings for a new primary school.

The refurbishment incorporated the removal of most of the internal partitions and replacement of electrical services. Two adjoining buildings were demolished for the outdoor learning environments.

Verandas were added for outdoor learning areas, covered play areas and for links and access between the adjoining buildings. These verandas were angled such that they finished over the existing building’s roof line. Multiple overlapping saw-tooth roofs were used for wider verandas to maintain natural ventilation and natural lighting for classrooms.

A flexible approach of open space was incorporated into the refurbishment, with simple Ikea shelves used for their lightness and ease for moving to recreate spaces as required.

Computer ‘pods’ are situated around the unit rather than concentrated in one space. The pods use laptops which are generally attached to data points, however the wireless system allows the students to access the internet from inside to outside the building.

All areas have access to withdrawal rooms as well as the large sunken Pit area. The whole school learning environment can be observed from the reception area. Furnishings have been used to minimise any kind of institutional look with lounges, coffee tables and wooden tables such as that found in a residential home.