Edmund Rice College’s Narandha Learning Centre involved the transformation of the school’s traditional library into a series of flexible, dynamic light filled learning spaces. It also provided the opportunity to construct two new general learning areas (GLA’S) and specialist Music Rooms as a part of the school’s now maturing Arts Precinct.
Program
Edmund Rice College – Learning Centre
Floor Area
1,250 sq. m
Site Location
Mount Keira Road, West Wollongong, NSW
In response to evolving pedagogies and rapid technology development changing the way students learn, the school’s brief was to convert its existing library into a learning centre for the 21st century. The existing library location was right - at the centre of the campus.
What was required was a variety of spaces for different modes of learning and the installation of technology to allow the students to connect with each other and necessary external learning resources.
Requiring additional floor area to accommodate the space needed, the existing library was substantially rebuilt and extended. A large skylight was installed to fill the deep plan with light and provide natural ventilation. The furniture layout is planned to be flexible, allowing for single, small and class groups of students to be accommodated with access to information technology and audio...
...visual services. Linked to the Learning Centre are two interconnected GLA’s with dividing acoustic glass partitions and sliding doors.
These flexible, connected spaces with round student tables promote collaborative student focused learning and have the ability to bring class groups together to work in a single group. Specialist Music rooms with sound proof practise rooms, removable performance stages and instrument storage complete the facility.
