The Gardens School is a full primary school originally built in 2000. It was completely demolished in 2015 due to weather-tightness and structural integrity issues. The school is on a difficult site, straddling a steep slope that provided limited flat ground to build. A three-story solution was adopted to provide maximum outdoor play and sports areas.

Extensive consultation with staff and senior management was undertaken to establish the design of innovative learning spaces specifically suited to the school culture. A fundamental requirement was to achieve a strong sense of community and connectedness across the school’s three levels. We wanted to ensure that new entrant and junior pupils on the ground level had a sense of others in the school. This was achieved through forming two large triple height voids, opening and connecting the three floors to each other.

A strong central corridor provides connectivity from the school entry through to the library that forms the central heart of the building. A large bleacher seat stair extends from the library up to the third level, providing a central gathering space at the heart of the school.

Each level consists of large open plan innovative learning commons arranged around the central corridor. Each learning commons contains group study spaces and private nooks for withdrawal. The spatial arrangement encourages collaborative teaching and learning with the school acting as a testament to a culture of innovative learning.

A significant aspect of the finished building is the interconnectedness of the spaces - from anywhere in the school you can see into other areas. This supports the school ‘family’ philosophy and culture of caring for one another.

FACTS

MOAA Architects:
Project Team: Tim Horne, Simon Harrison

Client:
Ministry of Education

General Contractor:
Arrow International Limited

Building Data:
Gross Floor Area (GFA): 4,350m2
Project Address: 101 Charles Prevost Dr, The Gardens, Auckland, 2105

Construction:
Structure: reinforced concrete and steel

Dates:
Design: December 2014 – June 2015
Construction: January 2017 – February 2018

Project Photography:
Ryan Thorpe, David St George