St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, Learning Cluster Building

A well-considered design where ‘less is more’.

The design solution, including furniture, was regarded by the judging panel to be purposefully flexible, accommodating a range of different learning modalities. The materials palate was contemporary while contributing to an aesthetic which the judging panel felt could be timeless.

Project Details

Architects
Smith + Tracey Architects

Award
Commendation: Category 2 New Construction/New Individual Facility

Address
150 Bowen Street, Warragul VIC 3820

Submitter
Smith + Tracey Architects

Cost
$2,675,000

Photographer
Chris Matterson Photography

Project Overview

The John McIntyre Centre, provides a stimulating environment that is inspiring our senior learners through engagement and inclusion. Across two levels, the eight flexible and adaptable learning areas, with six small student withdrawal rooms, open onto a breakout learning street providing an interactive learning community. The ground floor common space has been designed to extend into outdoor landscaped courtyards providing additional opportunities for learning; while the first floor has a bridge link connecting to an adjacent higher terrace level and VCE Centre.

The learning is highly visible and accessible throughout the Centre, creating a strong sense of ‘community’, enabling staff, students and school visitors to feel welcome and visibly be part of the learning process. The transparency of spaces has achieved ‘accountability’ where teachers and students are encouraged to ensure their ‘best self’ is on display to others; and the promotion of ‘trust’ and ‘respect’ is achieved by students using accessible equipment and learning spaces encouraging self-control and responsible self-management.

The connectedness and flowing interrelationships of spaces activate all parts of the building, creating a flexible series of learning settings from small group rooms to the learning street, supported by reconfigurable furniture modules. The ability to open or close spaces through easily operated walls and screens creates a dynamic learning environment responsive to the student centric curriculum and the evolving team teaching approach. The Centre is fully interactive through technology, display or writable surfaces engaging students and encouraging them to collaborate and share knowledge. The building and its connections are fully accessible, designed to meet the specific needs of an existing wheelchair reliant student, enabling his learning journey to enjoy this facility.

The design was developed in response to its regional centre, with materiality and construction methods selected to continue the St Paul’s approach towards ‘best value’, and to ensure a positive after service.