Project overview

The brief for the Denise Kable Centre (DKC) was to provide a new centre-based learning facility for students with challenging behaviour. The project is co-located with Clifford Park Special School on one campus, however, has been designed to be an independent entity with its own identity.

Conceptual studies had previously been undertaken. After taking on the project, the JCA team identified challenges with the proposed site being negatively impacted by overland flow, paired with an undesirable building orientation due to solar and privacy issues. During the site master-planning phase the design team undertook detailed investigations, and an alternative site was proposed. Positive outcomes for students were prioritised over ease of accommodating infrastructure such as staff carparking.

The DKC building program required 5 general learning spaces, 1 workshop space, 1 hospitality kitchen and dining area, staff spaces, amenities and carparking. The design of the building features a central courtyard formed by a front facing administration wing that addresses the street to the north, a private classroom wing that defines the ‘campus’ extent to the south, a masonry wall to the west providing protection from the afternoon sun and strong winter winds, and a covered play space to the east. The courtyard has been designed with graduated activity levels, from opportunities for quiet retreat, through to areas for active play, whilst enabling staff to maintain supervision. Biophilic design principles have been adopted, and selected finishes doubled to create positive learning environments.