Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation
Victoria
Architecture architecture worked closely with the occupational therapists and specialist teachers at Yarra Ranges SDS to develop an architecture that attends to the psychological and physical comfort of students with learning difficulties and sensory sensitivities, engaging principles of light, colour and spatial sequencing to create inclusive learning spaces.Â
Aa delivered a new campus heart, middle school, senior school and specialist learning spaces, developing a tailored consultation process with the school and its community to ensure the specialist pedagogical needs of students and staff were met.Â
The school is reimagined with a generous campus heart where students can play in safety and comfort. The grounds are intuitive to navigate and students feel connected to nature with opportunities to explore, relax and retreat.Â
New facilities include classrooms, a library, TV production studio, digital media, food technology, fitness centre, performance and multiple-purpose room, art room and a variety of supporting amenities.
"From the beginning Architecture architecture invested time and energy in our project with a genuine interest in finding out who we are, about our teaching and learning approach, and through authentic conversation reached an understanding on how to embed our school’s vision statement, ‘independence through active learning’.
Architecture architecture has been creative and innovative. The result is that our new spaces are outstanding, supporting our whole-school approach to communication, teaching and learning and school-wide positive behaviour. Our school is well on track to becoming a showcase for special education in Victoria, indeed inclusive educational design for all."
Michael Roper, Design Architect
Nick James, Design Architect
Byron Meyer, Project Architect
Emily Tang, Project Architect
Anna Nguyen, Project Architect
Thomson Adsett, Strategic delivery advisory
On-Paper, Educational planning consultant
Arup, Acoustic Consultant
Baxter Ecology, Bushfire and arborist consultancy
RBS / reddo, Building Surveyor
TTW, Civil Consultant
BRT, ESD Consultant
RBB, Quantity Surveyor
TTW, Structural Engineer
BRT, Services Consultant
SBLA, Landscape Consultant