“Inspired by the School motto and workshops with staff, students and parents; the design narrative of a “Bird taking flight” was explored through the design to create a vibrant, inviting and highly functional learning environment.”

As Principal Consultants working with the VSBA, K2LD were actively involved in the master planning, design, documentation and contract administration phases of this project. We also provided a Superintendent role for the delivery. As there were several existing buildings to be retained on the site and considerable site services issues, it was important that the stakeholder engagement process considered relevant perspectives from (students, staff and parents) to ensure best value for money and also functional and student focused buildings.

The VSBA’s agenda for Bimbadeen Heights Primary School was to replace the run-down and asbestos riddled existing LTC and relocatable buildings on site with new classroom, administration, art and music facilities that would meet the current and future approach to teaching and learning. Inspired by the School motto and workshops with staff, students and parents; the design narrative of a “Bird taking flight” was explored through the design to create a vibrant, inviting and highly functional learning environment. The facilities were provided in the form of two major single storey buildings. The first containing the Admin, which appropriately created an identity an address at the front of the site with a junior learning community attached. .

The second building provided a combination of specialist facilities (art, music and canteen) with another learning community attached. Together these two buildings were sited to connect appropriately with the BER, gym and library on site. These also created the opportunity for an outdoor learning street with both new buildings having a strong connection through windows and doors to this active play space

The learning community plans cater for up to 125 students with a central collaborative space. This space is supported by enclosed meeting rooms and flexible reading areas that provide for integration activities and a mini library within each community.

Individual classrooms then pivot off this space with storerooms, staff areas and toilet amenities immediately adjacent. The combination of classroom, meeting room and large collaborative spaces allow for a variety of teaching modalities to occur from group work to individual learning. Immediate visual and physical access to the outdoors from every classroom also allows for exploratory work in the immediate outdoor environment.