St Augustine’s College
The Awards Jury commented that overall, the project was a well designed area catering for all different learning styles. They were particularly impressed with the notion of clean and dirty spaces, recognising what learning is actually like. They also liked the attention paid to professional learning seminar space for staff.
Project Details
Architects
PMDL Architecture + Design
Award
Commendation, Category 2: New Facility Construction – Individual Facility
Address
Federal Parade, Brookvale NSW 2100
Submitter
Peter Doddrell
Cost
Not disclosed
Photographer
Tania Niwa Photographer
Project Overview
The College undertook a comprehensive Masterplan study in 2012, which identified a need to provide accommodation that could respond to changing demands in teaching and learning and supported a more collaborative approach.
The first stage addressed the need to provide science teaching and learning spaces accessible to both the Junior and Senior Schools. Commencing with workshops with stakeholders, the brief evolved over a number of months and included the exploration of different examples of teaching and learning modalities, site visits and group discussions with the eventual brief reflecting some significant rethinking of current practices.
The new Junior school features a collection of teaching and learning studios, connected over two storeys, supported by shared and collaborative spaces. These spaces are arranged to allow sharing, working independently and “permission to make a mess” spaces, all encouraging a sense of inquiry and celebrating the activities.
The new Science facilities, over two floors, are centred around the idea of celebrating science and encouraging collaboration and investigation. The spaces are organised as “clean” and “dirty” spaces, all connected and allowing group work, team teaching and individual research. Support spaces include preparation and storage areas together with staff and seminar spaces. The practical spaces are directly connected to the support spaces and can operate collectively or independently. They are connected to the general learning spaces either through full height operable doors or over shared practical benches.
The existing science facilities were refurbished to provide new student, staff and teaching and learning spaces, resulting in better use of existing building fabric and the creation of socialisation and circulation areas. The ground floor was reinvented to include Gusto cafe, together with retail and support spaces.
The feedback from staff and students has been very positive particularly relating to the diversity of teaching and learning opportunities on offer. The science team has found the spaces significantly improve their ability to facilitate a variety of learning options and be more agile in responses to learning enquiry. The Junior School feels it is now part of the overall College but with their own special place and sense of identity.