Winners of the 2018 WA Chapter Awards announced
06 Dec 2018
Congratulations to all the winners of the WA Chapter Learning Environments Awards, celebrated at the End of Year Function on 5 December 2018.
Below are the recipients of Awards and you can view these projects and all the entrants via our online gallery.
Category 1: New Construction / Entire New Educational Facility
Winner: Byford Secondary College, With Architecture Studio
Jury Citation: “With Architecture Studio met the challenge to create a sense of connectivity and community from the day of opening for Byford Secondary College. This was achieved through smart master planning that created a clear order of civic facilities along a strong central spine. General learning areas and specialist areas are logically placed along it.
By creatively interpreting the Department of Education’s standard brief the design team delivered functional, flexible spaces between traditional classrooms and a diverse range of break out spaces. Linked social spaces for student gathering provide shelter and connectivity from library and cafeteria to the sports hall.
With Architecture Studio is to be congratulated on balancing aspiration with constraints to deliver a highly functional school that has been met with enthusiasm by the school community.”
Category 2: New Construction / New Individual Facility over $8m
Winner: Hale Junior School Redevelopment, Site Architecture Studio
Jury Citation: “SITE Architecture Studio completed a thorough planning process for the Hale Junior School project. The final outcome which combined the school’s teaching philosophy with flexible spaces is a testament to the exceptional planning processes by SITE Architecture Studio. The final design promotes active and passive learning spaces which provide connections to classrooms as well as connections between internal and external environments. The break out spaces between classrooms provide excellent flexibility to allow various learning opportunities which links back to the Prepare, Teach, and Connect philosophy.
SITE Architecture Studio is commended on the project which has improved the learning of students at Hale Junior School through designing flexible facilities for teachers to implement the school’s teaching philosophy.”
Category 3: New Construction / New Individual Facility under $8m
Winner: Cecil Andrews College STEM Centre, Gresley Abas Architects Pty Ltd
Jury Citation: “A prototype in itself, Cecil Andrews College STEM Centre by Gresley Abas Architects has pushed the projects brief to create a highly active and engaging STEM Centre. The spaces allow for collaboration and connection where students and teachers can flow between spaces as required to areas that support the various programmes and learning opportunities.
Congratulations to Gresley Abas Architects for the creation of a highly successful STEM facility.”
Category 4: Renovation / Modernisation over $2m
Winner: Mildred Manning Science Centre, Wesley College, Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick
Jury Citation: “An outstanding planning process lead by the school, established the direction for the project from the onset. With a long lead time the school engaged experts and visited numerous facilities across the country to establish the brief for the centre. Architects TRCB were involved from the project’s early beginnings enabling a strong understanding and connection with the school’s intent for the centre.
The resulting design has enabled the school to implement innovative education practices in equally innovative, dynamic and flexible spaces. Congratulations to Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick for this transformation of a 1950s building to one of the most exciting, contemporary facilities for science learning in the State.”
Category 6: An Innovative Education Initiative
Winner: Secondary School Built Environment and its Relation to Teaching and Learning Outcomes, WA Chapter Learning Environments and the University of Notre Dame Australia
Jury Citation: “A unique initiative with fantastic results and opportunities, connecting 3rd year Bachelor of Education Students with Architects who are involved in the design and procurement learning environments. The success of this initiative is clear.
The University of Notre Dame Australia and WA Chapter of LEA are congratulated on developing a program that has positively challenged and pushed all participants to improve educational outcomes.”
Overall Winner 2018
Winner: Mildred Manning Science Centre, Wesley College, Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick
Jury Citation: “An outstanding planning process lead by the school, established the direction for the project from the onset. For over two years the school engaged with experts and visited numerous facilities across the country to establish the brief for the centre. Architects TRCB were involved from the project’s early beginnings enabling a strong understanding and connection with the school’s intent for the centre.
The recycled 1950s building now incorporates a raft of innovative features to support student learning. In addition to the provision of open flexible and interactive workspaces, writable surfaces and mobile furniture, the centre itself is a dynamic data collection and observation tool. This has been achieved through the inclusion of elements such as the multi floor drop zone, vertical hydroponic gardens, solar array, capacity to monitor CO2 and an energy management system.
TRCB have also improved environmental conditions for learning by increasing the illumination levels, lowering humidity, enhancing acoustics and incorporating natural ventilation.
The progressively developed design now enhances increased opportunities for staff and student interaction. Laboratory technicians are now embedded at each level of the building thanks to the openness of the design and the visual connectivity into previously unseen adult workshop spaces.
Congratulations to TRCB for designing collaborative, connected, integrated, flexible and varied learning spaces within and outside the building. This functional design enhances the delivery of a forward thinking curriculum to engage and excite students about the science of learning and the learning of science.”
Award Jury Members: Ros Marsland, Rachel Pages-Oliver and Leon Slattery
Photo of Mildred Manning Science Centre, Wesley College by Acorn Photo
