Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan people
NSW Regional
Regional
The Cobar Early Learning Centre is part of the Ward Oval Precinct masterplan which positioned the childcare centre carefully to be co-located to the local public school and as a part of the sporting and cultural life of the town.
If it is true that it takes a village to raise a child – it follows that a childcare centre should mimic the attributes of the ideal village. The design for Cobar ELC integrates a courtyard form to enclose and protect the landscaped play space at its core similar to a town square. This allows the building to control entry points, deals with privacy and surveillance, creates internal spaces with lots of natural light and surrounds the outdoor playspaces with active and deeply shaded verandahs.
Cobar Early Learning Centre is an exemplary project addressing a vital childcare need, potentially reducing the FIFO (fly-in/fly-out) population and strengthening social cohesion in this isolated community.
To withstand the hot, and windy climate, a central courtyard provides shelter and a landscaped play area. Controlled entry points address privacy and surveillance concerns, while natural light is optimised throughout. Flexible indoor/outdoor play zones, and quiet spaces, promote learning and well-being. Collaboration is encouraged through designated programming spaces, thoughtfully designed staff areas and separate meeting and training rooms.
The building surpasses minimum universal design standards. Passive design principles, low-maintenance materials, and minimal energy use help reduce operational costs. The high-cost building environment necessitated efficient structural grids and prefabricated timber framing systems. Procurement prioritised local trades, suppliers, Aboriginal participation and women in construction.
An overdue public asset for Cobar, the centre will have a positive impact on the community for years to come.
The design of the early learning centre enhances children’s learning by offering flexible, adaptable spaces, and abundant natural light. It promotes health and well-being with functional indoor-outdoor play zones as well as well-appointed quiet spaces. Collaboration is encouraged through well-designed staff areas, that include a designated programming room and separate meeting/training room. Sustainability is prioritised with energy-efficient features and a modern layout for resource management. The centre ensures inclusivity with accessible design and cultural sensitivity, creating a welcoming, supportive environment for all children. Overall, the design fosters creativity, well-being, collaboration, and efficiency, benefiting staff, children and their families.
Ashley Dunn, Design Architect
Lee Hillam, Design Architect
Carlos Veas, Project Architect
Geremy Yip, Project Architect
Scott Finlayson, Graduate of Architecture
Nailah Masagos, Graduate of Architecture
Cobar Shire Council, Developer
NSW Public Works, Project Manager
PMI Engineers, Structural Engineer
JHA Consulting Engineers, Services Consultant
JHA Consulting Engineers, Civil Consultant
Somewhere Landscape Architects, Landscape Consultant
DC Partnership, BCA, Access, Fire Safety
Lyle Marshall & Partners, Traffic Engineer
Cini Little Australia, Kitchen Consultant
Altus Group, Cost Consultant
Langford & Rowe Consulting Surveyors, Building Surveyor
Wade Ryan Contracting, Arborist
Jelly Design, Graphics