Immanuel College in Adelaide’s new $3m ‘market-style’ middle school
IMMANUEL College is transforming its middle school in a new $3 million redevelopment — taking inspiration from markets and university spaces.
IMMANUEL COLLEGE is transforming its learning environment further through a $3 million middle school redevelopment — taking inspiration from markets and university spaces for the project.
Principal Kevin Richardson said the new middle school mall area, for pupils in Years 7-9, would enhance the student experience inside and outside of the classroom.
“It’s a market-style space, which is a bit different but will help with developing students’ social skills,” he said.
“We’re always looking at ways to be more innovative and that results in Immanuel being quite a different learning environment from most schools.
“Things like outdoor learning spaces are a big part of that.”
Design firm Oxigen, which was a part of the award-winning Tonsley innovation precinct, has headed the revamp, which got underway during the summer holidays.
The first stage of the project began in December, with the floor of the middle school mall area ripped up to allow underground utilities and services to be upgraded.
The remainder of the redevelopment will occur during Terms one and two — including, new furniture and seating, a variety of indoor and outdoor study zones and addition of vegetation and natural materials.
Further plans for the middle school are in the pipeline but Mr Richardson said they were yet to be finalised.
It follows a major redevelopment of Immanuel’s senior school in 2015, the $15 million Margaret Ames Centre.
The new building replaced traditional classrooms with open learning spaces and cutting-edge technology — all aimed at eventual university success.
Mr Richardson said the philosophy would be similar with the middle school project.
“The types of jobs available to today’s students are very different to what they were five, 10 or 20 years ago,” he said.
“Knowing where employment is going to be based in the future is very important.
“We really focus on how we can best prepare our kids for life after school, including their social skills, wellbeing and mental health — not just academically.”
Immanuel has been a winner of Educator Magazine Innovative Schools Awards for the past two years.
Mr Richardson said more than 4000 people had visited the school in the past year from various areas of education to look at what Immanuel was doing.