Simonds Catholic College Year 7 Learning Spaces + Administration Entry
Small, careful changes that brought a heritage building back to a human scale and gave the College a warmer welcome.
At Simonds Catholic College in West Melbourne, we made a series of small, targeted changes to a heritage-listed 1920s building. We turned five outdated Year 7 classrooms into flexible, comfortable learning spaces, and careful budget management meant we could also refurbish the entrance foyer to the administration, giving the College a more welcoming front door.
Completion
2014
Services
Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Design
Client
Simonds Catholic College
Location
West Melbourne, VIC
Classrooms Ready for a Rethink
The College's Year 7 classrooms had become outdated. The rooms were oversized, the ceilings were very high, the acoustics were poor and there was little flexibility in how they could be used. The College wanted small interventions that would make the rooms more comfortable and improve how the school is perceived.
Heritage Rooms, Modern Learning
Working within a heritage-listed 1920s building meant respecting its character while making it work for today's students. Tall ceilings and big rooms let sound bounce around, which is a real issue in a classroom full of Year 7 boys. We needed to calm the noise and bring the rooms back to a human scale, all within a modest budget.
Putting the Budget Where It Counted
Custom-made suspended acoustic panels and new lighting lowered the ceilings and controlled the noise, with a hexagonal shape that picks up the pin boards and carpet. We added an operable wall, extra AV, and whiteboard paint or pin board walls, so teaching can happen anywhere in the room. With budget to spare, we also refurbished the administration entry foyer, upgrading reception and waiting, and improved a multipurpose space.
Calmer Rooms, More Ways to Teach
The Year 7 classrooms are now calm, comfortable spaces that feel the right size for the students using them. Teachers can open rooms up or close them down and teach from any wall, and the refurbished administration entry gives visitors a better first impression. A great result, well received by students and staff alike.