Sustainably designed workshops made from rammed earth and exposed timber at a training college in Somerville have been recognised with a Best School Project award at the 2016 Victorian School Design Awards.
Minister for Education James Merlino presented the awards at an event in Melbourne on Thursday night.
The art and design, building, construction and plumbing workshops at Somerville College Technical Education and Trade Training Centre won Best School Project over $3.5 million for their design, which use thermal mass and external shading to create a comfortable and healthy environment for staff and students.
Fourteen schools from across the state were shortlisted for six awards, including best primary school, best secondary school and inclusive design.
From a Discovery Centre with outdoor learning spaces and a ‘think tank’ at Sandringham College to an experiment and IT lab for students at Kananook Primary School, the winning designs showcase how modern school design can benefit students.
The Andrews Labor Government re-opened the awards after a five year break, following calls from architects and designers.
It comes after the Labor Government’s record $1.8 billion investment in school infrastructure, with 42 new schools and hundreds of school upgrades now in the construction pipeline.
This school building boom will create 4000 construction jobs and ensure all Victorian families have access to a great school no matter where they live.
Find out more about the winning school designs at:
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, James Merlino
“These awards are a great opportunity for local schools and architects to showcase how innovative school design contributes to a better education for our kids.”
“We’re investing a record $1.8 billion on new schools and school upgrades so that every student has access to a great education – creative school design is an important part of that.”
“I’m proud to present the inclusive design award for the first time this year – we’re working hard to make our schools inclusive for kids with special needs and the great building design at Officer Specialist School showcases this.”
2016 Victorian School Design Award winners and finalists:
Ministerial Commendation for best use of inclusive design
Officer Specialist School - ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects
Best School Project – Below $1 million
Winner: Kananook Primary School (Seaford) - Wendy Hastrich Architect Pty Ltd
Finalist: Seaford North Primary School (Seaford) - PRO-ARK Pty Ltd
Best School Project – Between $1 million and $3.5 million
Winner: Sandringham College - ClarkeHopkinsClarke
Finalist: Dingley Primary School (Dingley Village) - K2LD Architects
Best School Project – Above $3.5 million
Winner: Somerville College, Technical Education & Trade Training Centre - Gray Puksand
Finalist: University High School (Parkville) – Elizabeth Blackburn School of Sciences - ClarkeHopkinsClarke
Finalist: Hazel Glen College (Doreen) - Minx Architecture
Best Primary School
Winner: Fairhills Primary School (Ferntree Gully) - Minx Architecture
Finalist: Arnolds Creek Primary School (Melton) - ClarkeHopkinsClarke
Finalist: Golden Square Primary School - K2LD Architects
Best Secondary School
Winner: Ashwood High School - Baldasso Cortese
Finalist: Officer Secondary College – ClarkeHopkinsClarke
Finalist: Mount Erin Secondary College (Frankston South) - Hayball Pty Ltd
Reviewed 19 August 2020