Not so long ago McKinnon Primary School, in Melbourne’s south, was on the verge of closing due to falling enrollments. Now it has undergone a transformation, with an outstanding new addition replacing a sea of portable buildings that were housing its expanding student base.

So how do you add to the 1930 two-storey brick box that was the original school building? Simply by
masterplanning the site to place the existing building at the hub of a complex, creating in Stage One a
series of learning modules (you could never call them classrooms) for individual and group work.
“It’s all about learning in the 21st century,” explains Kneeler Design’s Robert Bienvenu.

Fittingly, the new complex is a remarkable design in its own right while still respecting its venerable
neighbour. “Stage 1 involves 12 classrooms, a Learning Centre (which is like a library but there’s a lot
more goes on there than that!) and a new art complex,” Bienvenu explains.

Face brickwork predominates at lower levels, material durability being critical in such an application, with softly coloured, off-white bricks providing a neutral backdrop. A massive wall of rammed earth
dominates the western face. Bricks were also used to create a sinuous, low, freestanding wall, to
divide areas and form much needed outdoor seating. The material that picks up the red brick of the 1930 building is Austral Bricks Terraçade terracotta façade tiles that are distributed in relatively
small panels across the exterior.

“The beauty of that was the lightweight nature of the product and its thermal qualities,” says Robert Bienvenu. This is Kneeler’s second Terraçade project, the first being a public housing project.

“The Terraçade went on quite easily. As you can see in the photos the fit is exact. To my knowledge we didn’t have to cut any tiles. It was very clean.”

The school is extremely happy with the outcome of the two year program – one year each in design and construction. “It’s outstanding,” enthuses McKinnon Primary’s Edwin Janse. “It is interesting to see the contrasts between the old and the new. We are very happy with the end result. We couldn’t be happier. We’ve gone from boiled lollies to chocolates!”

Future stages of the project may include a gymnasium, renovated sports field, and even a butterfly house. “We’re looking forward to a very bright future,” says Edwin Janse.

• “The beauty of that was the lightweight nature of the product and its thermal qualities,”
  Architect, Robert Bienvenu
• “It is interesting to see the contrasts between the old and the new. We are very happy with the
  end result. We couldn’t be happier. We’ve gone from boiled lollies to chocolates!”
  McKinnon Primary, Edwin Janse