4 minute read
A legacy for all
A cohesive Master Plan for both the Junior Campus and Senior Campus will enable students and staff to continue to access and engage in excellent educational opportunities over the decades to come.
The Master Plan Committee has begun and will continue through this year to consult with key stakeholders including parents, students, alumni, and staff prior to the release of the Master Plan towards the end of 2021.
Chaired by the Rev James McKee, the Master Plan will focus on the built and natural environments of both campuses and ensure the spaces used by our community are informed by a consistent vision and benefit future generations of students.
“The Master Plan aims to enable the realisation of the new Strategic Plan,” says James. “It’s all well and good to have your programmes delivered and potentially redesigned and renewed, you also have to have a built environment that enables the delivery of these programmes to occur within contemporary learning spaces. “While we have some fantastic facilities with good purpose, there is opportunity to review what we currently have and future-proof the School for generations to come.
“The Master Plan also creates an opportunity for our community to be involved in fundraising ventures for specific projects across both campuses.”
Studies have shown that more green space within an education setting can create greater social cohesion, increase physical activity levels, and improve children’s cognitive development. At the Junior Campus, the Master Plan will focus not only on the built environment and natural flow of buildings and classrooms, while also increasing play spaces.
Master Plan Concept
Interior and exterior space design and re-configuration that supports school pedagogy. Morrison & Breytenbach Architects
“Green space is critical at the Junior Campus,” says James. “As part of the architectural consideration, natural spines will be created so that movement is logical for students and staff.”
The purchase of 5,000 square metres of land, the majority of which is green space directly behind the Junior Campus will see its footprint increase by more than half of its current land size.
Headmaster Richard Ford says the additional land will further enhance the opportunities for our students and staff to engage in active learning and recreation beyond the classroom.
“A need to improve the outdoor spaces and playgrounds at the Junior Campus has been identified through the Master Plan process,” says Richard.
“A current shortage of available green and outdoor space can be restrictive, and our vision is to create an Early Learning Precinct, as well as others, which incorporate purposely-designed zones. We will also look to feature undercover areas and increase accessibility for students and staff.
“Our Junior Campus classrooms will have the ability to connect to the outside, with provision for outdoor learning spaces, and more breakout areas to allow groups of classrooms the ability to connect and collaborate.”
For the Senior Campus, James says they will look to create an academic spine which will position more classrooms in the middle and create more space on the perimeter.
“The entrance to the Senior Campus will also be reinvigorated to enhance the arrival and drop off experience,” says James.
“We have beautiful heritage facades upon arrival, and we will look to enhance them as people enter and move through the campus. We wish to honour the history and legacy of the School all within a contemporary built environment.”
When asked what he is most excited about in respect of the Master Plan, James says it is the overall experience our community will have on our campuses.
“We have spent a lot of time considering what it is that we want people to feel when they visit or become a part of our School community,” says James.
“Whether it is a current student navigating the spaces as they move from class to class, an alumni re-visiting for a reunion or school tour – proud of their School and what it has helped them to achieve in their later life, or a family considering our School for their child’s education both in the classroom and beyond.
“We are excited about this opportunity to create generational infrastructure and facilities that will make a difference and instil a real sense of pride.
“Facilities are about building community. A new family joining us becomes part of that community and our Master Plan has been designed to enable people to feel a sense of welcome while also ensuring the spaces allow the delivery of excellent opportunities through spaces which facilitate sporting, arts, and theatre programmes, to name a few.
“In this our 175th year, we reflect upon our rich history and take the opportunity to turn our focus toward an exciting future, inspiring life-long learners.
“We have magnificent, iconic buildings which have served us well for generations and we are looking forward to providing exceptional, contemporary learning spaces to complement these iconic buildings for this generation and future generations.”
