St Mary’s Administration

Saint Mary’s project involved the construction of a new administration and staff resource area along with major refurbishments to the existing classroom spaces and neighbouring grounds. The former entry to the school was small in scale to the other buildings and hidden from view. This project sought to create a clear school entry and modernise the learning spaces within. The sweeping curve of the staff room calls visitors towards the main entry and allows for passive vision over visitors from the staff inside as they approach the school. Upstairs walls between existing classrooms have been replaced with glass sliding doors to allow clear vision throughout all learning spaces encouraging a community of learners between the 100 students that occupy that level. The Foundation classroom, originally a convent, sits to the right and is connected to the main school building via this administration building addition. Red brick was chosen for the administration building to match the old convent exterior and give the new building a sense of place within the context of 150 year old site. Photography by: Kelly Architects