Bloom Early Learning Centre MalvernMalvern, Victoria

Construction of a new two-storey early learning centre.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project comprised the demolition of an existing church and tennis court and alterations to a heritage-listed school building.

The centre operates across two separate buildings, provides exciting early learning spaces blended between old and new constructions, and encompasses nine play rooms, two art rooms and a nursery. The centre also includes a large kitchen, administration offices, planning rooms and outdoor play decks on both levels.

The centre is serviced by both a lift and stairs. Construction was mainly lightweight construction and composite cladding to the new building. The existing school building maintained its original brick façade.

Construction included ground floor parking facilities and state-of-the-art landscaping works incorporating soft fall play areas, timber climbing structures and a large covered walkway to link the two buildings.

This is our second project with Perkins Architects, and our third with Bloom, having completed their second facility in Spotswood.

INNOVATIONS

Working within a heritage building meant we had to ensure the ongoing structural stability of the existing building. We suggested a redesign of the flooring from timber to concrete which was accepted and installed. This alternative solution offered a cost saving to the client as there were minimal underpinning requirements.

We proposed an alternative balustrade system as the original design of the building could not support the nominated system. This also provided a cost saving to the client.