VIC Chapter - Dandy/Peninsula Afternoon - Somerville Secondary and Dandenong South Primary

Learning Environments Australasia - Victorian Chapter would like to invite you to a pair of site visits in the southern suburbs!

Somerville Secondary College required a truly collaborative approach to the briefing, planning and design of the new centre. The new centre was envisaged to build on and extend the school's existing specialist curriculum offer, in addition to providing contemporary, agile, large format working spaces that would respond to regional skills training needs. An accessible and flexible facility was envisaged at the outset, with a strong emphasis on showcasing pathways for secondary students into a variety of vocational areas, in addition to encouraging higher levels of female student participation, into what have traditionally been more male oriented domains.

Through establishing a central open design and project studio at the heart of the new centre, with a series of collocated independent and small group based spaces, the trade and specialist areas were able to be supported with extended and complementary learning opportunities, whether they be creative, theory or practice based.

In addition to the range of spaces, there was a strong desire by the school to optimize possibilities for cross-disciplinary interactions, both formal and informal, through provision of seamless physical access, intermediate shared breakout spaces and high levels of transparency.

A robust palette of materials used throughout is in response to the natural context of the site and is sympathetic to local indigenous heritage. An exposed skillion frame of engineered timber beams and columns which support a high span roof in the two main workshops and learning spaces, combined with exposed services have allowed the building envelope and structure to become a learning tool for students.

This facility challenges the status quo on of trade and technical education (i.e. who should attend and how they should learn). The learning environments created by the facility are stimulating and would create excitement amongst the users about the many teaching and learning possibilities within, which symbolically communicate the importance placed on design and collaboration being pathways to the development of practical skills. It is truly a benchmark facility and one that honours the integrity of trade and technical education, while also elevating its profile and status amongst the community.

Date: Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Time: 2:00 - 3:00pm

Where: Somerville Secondary College, Technical Education & Trade Training Centre

Address: 37 Graf Road Somerville VIC 3912

Time: 3:30 - 5:30pm

Where: Dandenong South Primary School Junior Learning Centre

Address: 52 Kirkham Road Dandenong VIC 3175

Price: $15 for member, $40 for non-members.

Inclusions: A tour of the facilities will be followed by networking drinks and nibbles.

Dandenong South Primary School Junior Learning Centre, *Recipient of the 2016 LEA - Victoria Chapter Award for ‘Category 4 Renovation/Modernisation Under $2m’

The challenge for this project was to re-vision and refurbish a large volume existing gymnasium building to become a progressive and stimulating multifunctional year level centre initially for Grades 1 & 2, but designed to be adaptable for other year levels, up to Year 6.

The opportunity to repurpose and revision the building to provide for the growing enrollment of the Junior School and to enable the School leadership to deliver a ‘contemporary, progressive teaching and learning model’. To do this strategic and educational briefing sessions were held which focused on the inclusion of well-being principles and developing the spirit of a junior cohort while extending to the wider school and parent community integration.

As a result, The Junior Learning Centre was designed to respond and adapt to changes in curriculum and pedagogy over time. Key elements in achieving these aims include:

Home bases, each accommodating 50 students provide a series of differentiated yet linked spaces, allowing for a wide range of student-to-teacher groupings across the school day, ranging from whole year level gatherings and presentations within the tiered seating spaces, general learning studios to house more traditional class size groups, through to small & individual study settings and nooks.

Spatial planning of the centre deliberately locates home group general learning and gathering spaces to either side of the building, with the central north-south spine enriched with more specialist spaces, all visually connected and easily accessible. Students and staff can move easily between spaces, accessing resources and facilities to support current activities, and the adaptable nature of spaces within the facility allows the school to structure the learning community within various neighbourhood groupings.

Specialist spaces, including year level specific library resources and reading lounge, drama and media presentation, creative wet and messy enabled indoor/outdoor workshop, kitchen spaces for low level food tech, all support cross disciplinary learning, whilst wireless technology and mobile AV equipment support learning anywhere anytime.

The Principal sums up the project well – “'The spaces create an environment reflecting modern teaching practice that allows students flexibility in the way they learn as well as flexibility for teachers in the way they teach” and “a highly engaging and beautiful space to work in.”

We hope to see you there!

Kindly supported by:

Major Sponsor - Learning Environments Australasia - Victoria Chapter