Albany Senior High School
At the edge of the North Shore metropolitan urban limit in Auckland, New Zealand, this 1300-student school responded to the site characteristics and constraints; built on its qualities, and fitted into the evolving surrounding area. It provides a dynamic learning environment which is sufficiently flexible to respond to pedagogical developments.
Project Details
Architects
Jasmax Ltd
Award
Commendation Category 1: New Construction Entire New School
Address
536 Albany Highway Albany North Shore City, Auckland 0632 New Zealand
Submitter
Hamish Boyd – Project Director
Cost
$55,000,000 NZD
Photographer
Dave Olsen
Project Overview
Situated at the edge of the North Shore metropolitan urban limit in Auckland, New Zealand, the 1300 student school:
a. Responded to the 4.2 hectare site characteristics and constraints; built on its qualities and fitted into the evolving surrounding area.
b. Provided a dynamic learning environment for students, which is sufficiently flexible and adaptive to respond to pedagogical developments.
The school is built around 10 learning communities catering for up to 130 students. Within these there are flexible areas that can be divided up to accommodate groups of students of varying sizes, or closed in for presentation style teaching. Towards the centre of the building is a zone to accommodate informal learning, meeting spaces, food-making facilities, communal teachers workroom, storage and toilet facilities.
This design encourages various methods of individual and group interaction and learning, allowing for the cross-cultivation of the various curriculum strands and providing students opportunities for new knowledge.
The school was used to help develop and pilot the “GreenStar” rating tool in New Zealand. A range of sustainable initiatives are incorporated into the design, from the preservation of the remaining bush and resident copper skink (native lizard) population, to the use of low VOC and recyclable materials. Low water-use devices, a rain garden, public transport and covered cycle parking are accommodated on the site.
We received the following feedback from Albany Senior High School Principal, Barbara Cavanagh:
“We wanted the school building to reflect the sort of school we wanted to create;
• Modern and friendly
• Collaborative,
• Encouraging open dialogue
• Supporting the ubiquitous use of technology
• Appropriate and engaging for young adults
• Mirroring modern workplaces.
I can genuinely say that the building has exceeded my expectations. The open style encourages adult behaviour from the students and supportive and collaborative behaviour from the teachers. I am still in awe of the effect the building has on the development of culture in the school.
There is a respect shown to the students by the café, the breakout rooms, the specialist rooms, the plaza, in fact the whole design which engenders respect from the students and from all who work here.”
Juries Comments
“The jury members were impressed by this school which is a new model for senior secondary schools in New Zealand. The design of the school has drawn on international experience and applied it discerningly to local needs. The result is an outstanding school that has recently completed its staged development and is delivering significant improvements in student outcomes especially in transitioning students to employment and higher education.
Congratulations to Jasmax Architects and Albany Senior High School.”
