Galungara Public School
The school is on a 2-hectare greenfield block in the rapidly growing suburb of Schofields, NSW. The design of the school and landscaping encourages connections to the wider community; maximising the possibility for shared use of sporting and community facilities, whilst also maintaining separation during school hours. A large roof overhangs the main entrance into the site, strongly marking the school along the streetscape. Individual general learning blocks stretch behind the community facade, connected by covered walkways, verandas and COLA spaces. Within the site, blocks surround the main playground area, strengthening the connection of the learning areas to the outdoors.
Galungara Public School’s contemporary pedagogy emphasises personalisation, active investigation and inquiry, and collaboration between students and professionals. The completed project includes 39 flexible learning spaces that facilitate these factors. The design includes a library, a multipurpose hall with shared community use, home bases, practical activity areas, withdrawal rooms, learning commons rooms, and Covered Outdoor Learning Areas (COLAS).
The external areas include informal recreational spaces, including play spaces and casual seating, formal learning areas that can accommodate a structured whole-class or group activity, sports facilities, authentic learning like sensory and vegetable gardens, and reflective spaces.
The various spaces enhance the learning experience and improve student engagement.
The school was built in two stages. Stage 1 was completed in January 2020, and Stage 2 was completed in January 2023.
The first NSW public school completed using the volumetric Design for Manufacture and Assembly DfMA
Stage 1 of the project was designed and built using the volumetric DfMA approach - Design for Manufacture and Assembly. It was the first public school in NSW to be completed using this method. Changing the delivery method from volumetric DfMA to a ‘kit of parts’ approach meant changing the design and detailing of almost all the building components.
This required fully finished building modules to be designed and built in a workshop in Victoria and transported by trucks to the site in NSW. Once on-site, they were assembled into a fully functioning building. Landscaping, including decking, pathways, play areas, and soft landscaping, was also made, transported, and assembled this way.
DfMA increased project delivery speed, shortened on-site construction time, reduced site waste, and enabled greater built quality control. GroupGSA’s design team worked closely with general contractor Richard Crookes Construction and module fabricator Modscape to design the building in separate modules, which allowed it to be fabricated and transported easily.
Nominated Architect:
Lisa-Maree Carrigan NSW ARB 7568
