AIA 2022 NSW Architecture Award for Educational Excellence awarded to our Nano Nagle Learning Centre


5th August 2022
Domremy's Nano Nagle Learning Centre has received yet another award.

Domremy College is delighted to announce that its Nano Nagle Learning Centre has received yet another award.

In July 2022 it was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects 2022 NSW Architecture Award for Educational Excellence. The NSW Architecture Awards celebrate design excellence in architecture in NSW. In a very competitive field, to be selected from nine shortlisted projects of an extremely high calibre, is a wonderful outcome for both the College and its architects, Hayball.

The jury panel was impressed with the dedication to learning evidenced throughout the Nano Nagle Learning Centre. This is what they had to say about the project:

“The Nano Nagle Learning Centre at Domremy College demonstrates the benefits of testing, listening, and prototyping in designing for change.

The jury were impressed with the dedication to learning evidenced throughout the project as proposed settings were tested in real time in a purpose designed space which repurposed an underutilised building in the centre of the campus. The final brief and design of the new building was clearly influenced by this process, allowing the successful introduction of a new model of teaching for the school through the introduction of a series of zoned learning spaces to contrast with the traditional classrooms on the campus.

Three forms are carefully brought together in the composition of the building with robust materiality and considered scale respecting the adjacency of the heritage fabric. Immediate external spaces surrounding the building, previously underutilised now allow for both internal and external, formal and informal gatherings of students. This is exemplified in the welcoming central tiered communal space which opens directly to the new courtyard playground beyond.”  (https://www.architecture.com.au/awards/2022-awards/2022-nsw-architecture-awards-winners?utm_campaign=skedlink&utm_medium=button&utm_source=skedlink)

 

By way of background:

The Nano Nagle Learning Centre

In 2021, Domremy College opened its state of the art Nano Nagle Learning Centre (NNLC), delivering modern, new and dynamic teaching and learning spaces to enhance our students’ learning experience.

The NNLC houses learning spaces, tutorial rooms, incubator spaces, presentation and maker spaces, quiet senior study spaces, a library and a theatrette.

Each of these areas work together to create a comfortable environment where students are encouraged to be critical and creative thinkers through collaboration, empowerment and entrepreneurial engagement. This was inspired by “The Solais Sandpit” prototype.

The Solais Sandpit

Both The Solais Sandpit and our new Nano Nagle Learning Centre (NNLC) were designed by Hayball Architects, in conjunction with Dr Ben Cleveland, an educational specialist, who engaged with our wider school community of students, staff and parents, to prepare the educational brief for the refurbishment of four traditional classrooms into The Sandpit. The Sandpit was extensively used as a prototype to inform the building of the NNLC and remains an educational facility of its own, providing a dynamic range of educational settings including a tiered presentation space, boardroom, tutorial room and smaller incubator spaces.

Awards

The Solais Sandpit was awarded Winner for the Renovation/Modernisation Category of the NSW Association for Learning Environments Awards in December 2018. In May 2019 it was awarded Winner of the Renovation/ Modernisation Under AU $2M category and Winner of An Innovative Education Initiative category in the LEA’s 12th Annual Australasia Awards for Excellence in Educational Facilities.

The Nano Nagle Learning Centre was awarded Winner for the New Construction/New Individual Facility Over $8 million Category in the LEA NSW Chapter awards in 2021. One of the main contributing factors for the win, which was referenced in the citation for the award, was the deep participation of Domremy throughout the process. In July 2022 it has been awarded the Australian Institute of Architects 2022 NSW Architecture Award for Educational Excellence. 

These are all wonderful achievements for the College and Hayball of which the College is immensely proud.

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