Congratulations to Kolbe Catholic College and Smith + Tracey Architects team for winning the Learning Environments Australasia Victorian Award 2018 for the best “New Individual Facility”.
The Food Technology Centre was recognised by leading designers and educationalist as a building that challenges traditional practice of a focus on teacher demonstration and promotes student discovery, investigation and problem solving. The whole approach to the Centre’s design is both simple and effective and provides students with a sense of ‘real life’ learning, which has the potential to significantly enhance the learning opportunities for students both inside and beyond school.
The jury citation identified a comprehensive planning process had provided real ownership to the College community. The process was clearly collaborative and engaging, with the architects exhibiting a genuine willingness to listen and understand the vision and strategic intent of the community, thus aligning the design to the College’s Educational Philosophy. The design outcome is contemporary and creative with high quality finishes that reflects a professional kitchen environment where students can experience life in the food industry, which will be beneficial to supporting the development of authentic career pathways.
The spatial planning provides excellent flexibility of use for practical and theory learning activities to enable both individual and collaborative learning. The integration and connectivity between indoor spaces and outdoor usable areas achieves light, bright and adaptive possibilities with exciting, durable and functional finishes. External raised planters provides students with the opportunity to experience the complete journey of food: grow, prepare and present.
The building is located to place food at the social ‘heart’ of the College community, with the café style canteen activating the central student hub, whilst fulfilling its primary purpose as a centre of excellence for food technology.
Smith + Tracey Architects have continued to develop a long-term relationship with the College since 2009 and are proud to be associated with the successful learning environments we have collaboratively delivered with the College.