Mother Teresa Catholic School Master Plan and Stage 1
Project Details
Architects
Parry and Rosenthal Architects
Award
Commendation Category 1: New Construction Entire New School
Address
Corner of Eighty road and Sixty Eight Road, 273 Eighty Road Baldivis, WA 6171
Submitter
Parry and Rosenthal Architects
Cost
$6,800,000
Photographer
Fisher Photography Perth; and Kenny To
Project Overview
Stage 1 of a new Catholic primary school including classrooms for Kindergarten to Year 2 with administration, library, canteen, multipurpose rooms, covered area, hard court, service, drop-off and parking and associated landscape works.
Following a limited design competition for the new Baldivis Catholic School and Parish Site Master Plan, which included a primary school, church and parish facilities, and secondary school, Parry & Rosenthal Architects were commissioned to implement Stage 1 of the Primary School, Mother Teresa Catholic School.
The green field site, previously for agricultural use is located in Baldivis, 50km south of Perth and is currently undergoing rapid development and population growth.
The brief for Mother Teresa Catholic School – Stage 1 was to create a building that had a strong presence in the developing suburb, to serve the church and wider community, and to be a 21st Century teaching and learning centre.
Facilities include learning areas for early childhood from kindergarten to year 2, a covered area (also used by the local Catholic Parish for church services and events), multipurpose area, temporary library and administration. The design of Stage 1 was required to allow for the future expansion into a full two stream primary school. To achieve this, Parry and Rosenthal Architects undertook a detailed master plan of the long term primary school. The campus was designed around a central Community Court, as the heart of the School, with facilities and other outdoor learning and play spaces around its edges. Stage 1 borders the southern portion of the future Community Court and is self contained and complete until the future expansion of the School occurs.
The building consists of 3 learning ‘wings’ connected to a central hub (covered area). The ‘wings’ are a series of rammed earth learning areas, linked by light weight structures (the shared facilities). The taller central hub anchors the ‘wings’ and creates an open, airy and light area for the Early Childhood students and all users to come together.
All learning areas have visual and physical access to external shared courtyards as well as access to separate age specific areas. Internal learning spaces are large and open with smaller ‘learning pods’ that provide more intimate spaces for quiet reflection, interaction of small groups
Mother Teresa Catholic School was completed and opened for 2014 school year.
