OLA Primary School Comunity Hub

The existing building was the original church on the site and holds great value and identity within the local community. The synergy of this space as a place to gather and share spiritual values, is not lost in the importance of reimagining this space as a new Community Hub for the OLA learning community.

A portion of old tired building stock was demolished to open-up the ‘social heart’ of the school providing a connection to several surrounding buildings, creating a place to gather, meet, play, and learn. It is rewarding to see parents and children arrive in the mornings or pick-up in the afternoon in the newly formed heart with the opportunity to utilise the community space as a place to gather or simply step into the library to share a book between parent and child. This is more than a book repository; it is a core educational pillar advocating the school’s love for reading. The designed internal wall graphic highlights the imaginative journey that books can provide children, through “the magic of reading”. The library is also a core place to learn creating various settings for the students in groups or as individuals. The adjacent connected space is focussed on STEM and Makers activities, creating the relationship between the library and STEM as a true centre for discovery.

The reclaiming of a narrow strip of outdoor found space between the library and the adjacent multi-purpose hall provides an extension of the library, and a place for quiet reading and reflection. This space provided a block wall as a canvas for an art installation curated by the artist Justine McAllister. The design is a collaboration of images drawn by the children and the artist celebrating OLA’s focus on the strong connection between education, community values, and Catholic identity.