MICHAEL SMITH AND ASSOCIATES
Elwood Secondary College, Grounds Masterplan
Client | Elwood Secondary College
Year | 2018
In June 2018 Elwood Secondary College commissioned our practice to prepare the Grounds Masterplan for the college located on Glenhuntly Road, Elwood. The college is operating at full capacity in terms of the student numbers relative to the extent of external spaces within the college.
Key elements for consideration in the preparation of the Grounds Masterplan were; the retention of as much open space as possible to include sports courts, a grassed soccer area, improvements to the courtyard spaces, improvements to the presentation of buildings to Glenhuntly Road, provision of a congregating space outside of the Phoenix Theatre and the creation of a range of breakout spaces, such as student discussion alcoves and outdoor classroom experiences to several locations within the college’s grounds.
The Melbourne Cricket Club’s Hockey Club proposed to construct a synthetic hockey field within the northern section of the college, which students and staff will use during college hours. The masterplan’s key directions accommodated the hockey field proposal. We prepared the Issues and opportunities paper, several visualisations and schematic concept designs for the main courtyard space and visualisations for the space and improvements to the Phoenix Theatre and its forecourt.
The college engaged our practice to work closely with their Grounds Committee to prepare concept to contract documentation drawings for a feature student/teacher courtyard, showcasing native plants with generous seating areas and substantial shade trees. As the area is to be a major congregating hub, synthetic grass was selected as a surface within the garden and seating spaces.
Botton and Gardner worked closely with the college in the custom fabrication of seats, both straight and curved, to acentuate the courtyard’s internal spaces and enclosure. The plans were tendered to several construction firms and PTA Landscapes were awarded the construction work contract.
Visualisations