Tuggeranong Introductory English Centre

Wanniassa, Australia

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Tuggeranong Introductory English Centre

Wanniassa, Australia

Firm

May + Russell Architects

Type

Educational › Other

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2015

SIZE

3000 sqft - 5000 sqft

BUDGET

$1M - 5M

Photos

Kiernan May (15)

The Tuggeranong Introductory English Centre is a modest extension and refurbishment of the existing Wanniassa Hills Primary School, to create a specialist facility for primary school aged children to learn English prior to entering mainstream schooling. As the facility often has children from difficult backgrounds, the facility focuses on fresh colours, natural timber finishes and plenty of natural light throughout the informal learning areas, to be welcoming, non-institutional and promote collaborative learning.

The facility’s motto of ‘being, becoming, belonging’ was the driving concept for the project and became an element of identity and address, autonomous from the existing school. The motto is colourfully represented on the Identity Wall, which utilises colours drawn from the existing school colours, as well as native flora of the Canberra region.

A lot of the symbolism expressed through the facility draws on the centre’s transience and journey taken by all those who have come to be part of the centre, a focal point of which are the playful paper planes pendant lights in the entrance. The expression of the identity throughout the interiors is one of pride so that all spaces are treated with utmost care and with a sense of ownership and community.