Mercy College – Trade Training Centre and General Learning Area Facility
Project Details
Architects
Slavin Architects
Address
Corner Mirrabooka Ave and Beach Road, Koondoola, WA 6064
Submitter
Stuart Neal, Murray Slavin
Cost
$7,729,895 AUD
Project Overview
Designed to provide a healthy and sustainable learning environment to maximise learning potential, the project features excellent energy and water saving initiatives, and bright, functional and flexible learning spaces. A key feature is the ability to easily and efficiently transform the ground floor level of the building from a number of individual teaching space into a single examination hall.
Flexibility was the overriding requirement, to accommodate diverse teaching and learning styles, for both small and large student groups, and achieved via an open-plan approach throughout with operable walls.
Optimum use of Verandahs
When not in use for circulation, verandahs serve as covered breakout spaces as extensions to internal learning areas. East-facing verandahs and balconies were designed to take advantage of desirable views to the east and also serve as elevated viewing platforms for soccer academy games on the adjacent grassed ovals.
Elevated Walkway
An elevated, walkway ‘spine’ in the Trade Training Centre provides teachers, staff and visitors the opportunity to observe and assess the teaching spaces below without disrupting the teaching and learning process.
Environmental Focus
Environmental features focus on providing maximum natural light, indirect evaporative cooling, automated louvers for night cooling and cross-ventilation to the above-ground learning areas whilst naturally cooled ventilation is supplied to sub basement areas.
Water capture and re-use in combination with water saving fixtures and fittings support other significant sustainability initiatives such as E-smart glazing , LED lighting, prefabrication techniques and economical Climate Wizard in lieu of traditional energy intensive air-conditioning.
Sloping Site
The challenge of the sloping site was used to advantage – by locating ancillary facilities below the main structure instead of conventional retaining and fill.
Defined Access
Vehicle and pedestrian connections were well defined in readiness for the next stage of the Masterplan implementation. Servicing to the facility was also a key consideration and, despite the complex levels of the development, all off-loading is provided at grade.
