2022 Awards
2022 LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AUSTRALASIA AWARDS
The 2022 Learning Environments Australasia Awards featured 63 entries from across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. The Awards’ results were announced on Thursday, 9 June 2022 at the awards presentation dinner event held during the 20th annual LEA conference in Adelaide, South Australia.
Congratulations to Ultimo Public School by DesignInc Sydney, Lacoste + Stevenson and bmc2 (architects in association) on winning the overall award.
Thank you to the following judges who volunteered their time and expertise to judge these awards:
John Augeri, Michael Bailey, David Buley, Craig Deed, Wendy Li-Siaw, Karen Marler, Ros Marsland, De’Arne Matthews, Andrew Pender, Murray Robertson, Vicky Steer and Craig Wattam.
Congratulations to Ultimo Public School by DesignInc Sydney, Lacost + Stevenson and bmc2 (architects in association) on winning the overall award.
All projects in the 2022 LEA Awards for excellence in educational facilities will be featured in the book: 2022 Contemporary Learning Spaces – if you would like a copy of this book please click here to visit our store.
Congratulations to all the winners and commendations, and sincere thanks to the entrants for taking the time to share their projects.
Download jury citations for winners and commendations
Overall Winner: Ultimo Public School
Located in an old industrial area near the Sydney CBD, this school is the result of a comprehensive planning and delivery process that focused on employing clever design strategies to expand the existing school cohort from 300 to 800. Rather than create another high-rise building in a dense urban industrial landscape, the designers decided to keep the students in touch with the environment through a series of buildings on terraces that step down a steep and enclosed site. Each homebase has direct connection to the outdoor environment through an adjoining outdoor learning area, providing flexible learning environments and supporting the school’s educational program. This includes direct instruction through to student-oriented learning through collaborative, project-based, outdoor play, and social learning.
The Ultimo Public School features a number of terraced buildings, nestled into textured layers and central arboreal courtyards that are symbolic of the long-term revitalisation of this part of Sydney. These courtyards draw on the metaphor of a cocoon within the perimeter of the school. These ideas are also apparent in the gentle angles of the building, suggestive of flexibility and accommodating a range of pedagogical practices. Also evident was the focus on environmental sustainability in the design, including natural light, cross-ventilation, and efforts to minimise energy and water consumption.
The overall effect is to provide a holistic educational experience for students, the quality of the design reflecting high expectations of the community for the school. This local ownership is another feature, and a range of community uses of the school spaces occur over each week.
Ultimo Public School, 47 – 53 Jones Street, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
DesignInc Sydney, Lacoste+Stevenson and bmc2, architects in association with School Infrastructure NSW
Photographer: Brett Boardman (Photography) and Thierry Lacoste (Photography)
Category 1: New Construction / Entire New Educational Facility
This category applies to construction of an entire new school or educational institution.
Winner: Ultimo Public School
Download jury citations for winners and commendations
Architect: DesignInc Sydney, Lacoste+Stevenson and bmc2, architects in association with School Infrastructure NSW
Photographer: Brett Boardman (Photography) and Thierry Lacoste (Photography)
Category 2: New Construction / New Individual Facility(ies) Over $8 Million (AU)
This category applies to a new building or new buildings in an existing school or campus.
Winner: Overnewton Anglican Community College Yirramboi Campus – New Middle School Building
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Architect: Law Architects
Photographer: Dianna Snape
Category 3: New Construction / New Individual Facility(ies) Under $8 Million (AU)
This category applies to a new building or new buildings in an existing school or campus.
Winner: Ringwood Secondary College – Senior School Building
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Architect: ClarkeHopkinsClarke
Photographer: Rhiannon Slatter
Category 4: Renovation / Modernisation Over $5 Million (AU)
No 2022 LEAD Award Winner
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Category 5: Renovation / Modernisation Under $5 Million (AU)
Winner: The Hester Hornbrook Academy
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Architect: Gray Puksand
Photographer: Tatjana Plitt
Category 6: Small Project Under $2 Million (AU)
May be a new building or renovation, must be a learning environment.
Winner: Dandenong South Primary School Discovery Centre
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Architect: ClarkeHopkinsClarke
Photographer: Rhiannon Slatter
Category 7: Landscaping/Outdoor Learning Area
Designed to showcase outdoor learning environments targeted to improving educational outcomes.
Winner: St Francis de Sales Alive Early Learning Centre & Reception to Year 6 Primary School
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Architect: Brown Falconer in collaboration with DesignWell
Photographer: Tara Graham-Cochrane, DesignWell
Category 8: An Innovative Education Initiative
Designed to showcase significant contributions to learning environments by schools, educators, students, designers, community organisations etc. Education Initiative must have been delivered to students for at least 6 months, since before 1st September, 2020.
Winner: Woodline Primary School
Download jury citations for winners and commendations
Architect: PTID
Photographer: PTID & Woodline Primary
For any questions please contact
Soraya Ramsey
Awards Co-ordinator
+61 409 276 794
awards@learningenvironments.org.au