Klemzig Primary School Site Visit

Tony Zed and Sue Nickson welcomed 38 CEFPI visitors to the school and provided an overview of the planning and design parameters required to integrate a specialist centre with a standard primary school and associated preschool.

The existing two story building was built in the 1960's but has been successfully reconfigured to create shared spaces, light and bright learning areas, wet areas and storage. A new section has been designed to provide specialist areas which can be shared or separated. There is integrated information technology everywhere to provide general information, publicise events, report on the use of solar energy and water consumption.

Specific features include teachers who are bi-lingual, able to use AUSLAN (sign language), work collaboratively and in teams for the benefit of students with a wide range of backgrounds and abilities.

Shannon Architects have designed buildings to include excellent acoustic treatment which has been incorporated into the building design, visual contact so all children can see what is happening around them, a generous learning street in which one-on-one and small groups can work - or a large group could gather, as well as easy access to learning areas which also have direct access to outdoor areas.

Monterra carpet has been used throughout to provide aesthetic and acoustic benefits. It is customised to include the school colours and can be reproduced at any time if sections need to be replaced.

Congratulations to all on this very attractive, successful and appropriate provision and to the teachers and students who are using it so well.

Ann Gorey

SA Chapter