Transforming heritage Abbotsford Primary School for contemporary pedagogies

Developing a 5-year asset management plan, enabled projects to be prioritised based on condition assessment and a masterplan. The original 1877 two-storey building was repurposed with spaces that support a variety of teaching and learning approaches. 

Key drivers of the school’s master planning were to improve connections between the north and south outdoor play areas, provide a community-focused entrance, improve physical and visual connections within the building and provide learning areas in line with DET requirements. The project highlights the complexities of maintaining the historical integrity of a building whilst ensuring it meets current standards and regulation. 

Issues such as energy efficiency, equal access, acoustics and services distribution were all fundamental to the refurbishment planning and the creation of a contemporary learning environment. 

Improvements to the energy efficiency and façade improvements of the heritage building has reduced the school’s energy use for heating and cooling and improved thermal comfort for the occupants.

The 1877 heritage building now provides a contemporary, flexible and accessible learning environment in line with contemporary standards.