LEARNING + LIFE Canterbury Primary School
Learning and Life is a project that enabled change and will facilitate lifelong learning.
The design of our new building supports individual, small group and large group activities in multi-purpose learning spaces with a community orientation.
The success of this learning environment is contingent on rigour, positive relationships, consistency and collective application.
Project Details
Architects
Architectus
Address
Molesworth Street, Canterbury 3126 VIC AUSTRALIA
Submitter
Architectus
Cost
$3,870,000
Photographer
Ian Davidson
Project Overview
Learning and Life is a project that enabled change and will facilitate lifelong learning.
The design is premised on providing a framework of physical space that is both current in pedagogy but flexible for future use. Integral to the design is a sense of connectedness – not just of internal space and function – but with the broader School environment and beyond. Engagement is encouraged visually and physically.
The building program although connected can also be divided into three spatial types, and this is reflected in form and volume. The Arts Precinct uses a southern courtyard to expand its environs and allow opportunity, the Multi-Purpose Hall is the embodiment of possibilities of use and engagement for the School Community – it is the Assembly Hall, it is the Performance Hall, it is a covered outdoor area; its capacity for varied use by the education and broader community is endless. The learning studio is a response to an education philosophy that is varied, flexible and opportunistic.
Over the past five years, our priority at Canterbury Primary School has been developing strong teaching teams within a highly collaborative culture. Our four year Strategic Plan (2009-2012) had three key improvement strategies in order to achieve this:
• To strengthen the professional learning culture
• To increase student voice in all aspects of schooling
• To improve school design and organisation for teaching and learning.
The design of our new building supports individual, small group and large group activities in multi-purpose learning spaces with a community orientation. Teachers work in teams to facilitate discussions, inquiry and discovery. While each class has a home base providing security and a sense of belonging, students move between spaces for their specific learning requirements throughout the day. Data informs teaching and grouping of students for learning based on their point of learning need. Explicit, targeted instruction and one on one learning opportunities are integral. Outdoor spaces and a beautifully finished gymnasium with a wall of fire station doors provide opportunities for cross –age learning and community events.
The success of this learning environment is contingent on rigour, positive relationships, consistency and collective application.
Learning and Life is a project that enabled change and will facilitate lifelong learning.
The design is premised on providing a framework of physical space that is both current in pedagogy but flexible for future use. Integral to the design is a sense of connectedness – not just of internal space and function – but with the broader School environment and beyond. Engagement is encouraged visually and physically.
The building program although connected can also be divided into three spatial types, and this is reflected in form and volume. The Arts Precinct uses a southern courtyard to expand its environs and allow opportunity, the Multi-Purpose Hall is the embodiment of possibilities of use and engagement for the School Community – it is the Assembly Hall, it is the Performance Hall, it is a covered outdoor area; its capacity for varied use by the education and broader community is endless. The learning studio is a response to an education philosophy that is varied, flexible and opportunistic.
Over the past five years, our priority at Canterbury Primary School has been developing strong teaching teams within a highly collaborative culture. Our four year Strategic Plan (2009-2012) had three key improvement strategies in order to achieve this:
• To strengthen the professional learning culture
• To increase student voice in all aspects of schooling
• To improve school design and organisation for teaching and learning.
The design of our new building supports individual, small group and large group activities in multi-purpose learning spaces with a community orientation. Teachers work in teams to facilitate discussions, inquiry and discovery. While each class has a home base providing security and a sense of belonging, students move between spaces for their specific learning requirements throughout the day. Data informs teaching and grouping of students for learning based on their point of learning need. Explicit, targeted instruction and one on one learning opportunities are integral. Outdoor spaces and a beautifully finished gymnasium with a wall of fire station doors provide opportunities for cross –age learning and community events.
The success of this learning environment is contingent on rigour, positive relationships, consistency and collective application.
