Taylor Primary School
Project Details
Architects
Small Quinton Coleman Architects
Address
88 Marconi Crescent Kambah , ACT 2902 Australia
Submitter
ACT Eductaion and Training Directorate
Cost
$12,930,000 (excluding GST)
Photographer
Ben Andrews – Lux &Lens
Project Overview
Taylor Primary School project delivered a modern, stimulating, high quality and sustainable 21st century learning environment. Consultation with the school community resulted in a rejuvenated school combining a Primary School and child care facility that will deliver good outcomes for the community for the next 20 years.
Taylor Primary school was built in the seventies in an ‘open plan ‘ configuration. Although the school had minor refurbishments over the years it required a major modernisation. Structural damage to the wall frames due to water ingress over the years created structural damage to the building frame.
The original ‘open plan ‘ configuration of the school that supported contemporary team teaching required a re-design to deliver a contemporary teaching and learning environment. During the structural repair and upgrade works the external asbestos cement cladding was also removed. Taylor Primary was re-designed and renewed to create a contemporary teaching environment for the next twenty years.
At the time of the temporary closure Taylor Primary School was a small community school. A major objective of the project was to maintain and strengthen the school ‘s connection to the community.
A renovation of this scale presented an opportunity to create a contemporary learning environment while incorporating the school ‘s individual unique requirements. Educational input from the Taylor Primary School teachers, students, community and the educational consultant not only considered the current needs of the school but looked to the future pedagogical and program requirements. Inclusion of a specialised language recovery space, a learning support centre, a flexible learning environment, imbedded technology and external learning areas has supported and enhanced the educational programs. The strong relationship with the childcare centre on site, which was a focus of the design, has created an educational community that supports the enrolments at the school.
Taylor Primary School is now a modem, attractive and sustainable school. The new fa çade, roof and landscaped play grounds have been well received by the community. The project respected the original design of the school while providing a new and engaging colour narrative that reflects the natural colours of the surrounding environment.
Taylor Primary School reopened in 2014. The school has not only maintained staff and student numbers but enrolments have grown with 263 in the 2015 school year. The school has now become a preferred Primary and Childcare facility the residents of Kambah.
