A top-tier private school is forging its transition towards contemporary teaching and learning practices with a series of prefabricated prototype buildings designed by Hayball for new generation learning.
The project is part of the school’s shift towards bespoke facilities for purposeful and differentiated learning, and is the subject of broader research to evaluate the role of design in learning environments.
Over its 133 year history, Caulfield Grammar School has evolved to meet the changing needs of metropolitan Melbourne, including the early expansion to a multi-campus model of operation. In another progressive move, and in alignment with the school’s vision and values, each of Caulfield Grammar’s three metropolitan campuses will receive a prefabricated facility designed for purposeful and differentiated learning.
Strong advocates for a collaborative design process to integrate modern education philosophies into school buildings, Hayball directors Richard Leonard and David Tweedie facilitated a highly consultative briefing program with the school community to introduce the concept of prototypes for multi-modal learning.
Educators advocate that learning be highly visible as part of the development of a learning culture, and that differentiation is key.
“We understand much better these days that not all kids learn in the same way. These will be hubs rich in assets for learning to take place in different ways, in purposeful spaces throughout the facility, rather than solely in traditional classroom lessons,” said Mr Tweedie.
Each modular building is designed with dedicated and connected spaces for whole-group work, small group collaborations, production, presentation and performance activities, quiet reflection and individual study.
Offering greater affordability and the potential to be demounted and relocated after the testing phase, the prefabricated modular buildings are bespoke, with a focus on design quality. Currently being fabricated by Precom in its Bayswater factory, the buildings will begin to be rolled out to each campus in late August.
As part of the evaluation of the preliminary three-year phase, Caulfield Grammar School has joined as a partner in E21LE, an Australian Research Council Linkage Project with the University of Melbourne to evaluate the educative value of physical learning environments. Hayball is a research partner in the project.
Hayball developed the school’s multi-campus masterplan in 2013.
View project: Caulfield Grammar School Masterplan and Learning Project