Urbis was engaged by DesignInc and Lacoste Stevenson Architects on behalf of SINSW for the adaptive reuse of the Former UTS Ku-ring-gai as a primary and secondary school. The school will be delivered in phases: Phase 1 is now complete and accommodates 350 students and Phases 2 and 3 are due for completion in 2021.
The campus, set within Lane Cove National Park, was designed in 5 stages by David Don Turner formerly of the Government Architects Office and is an excellent example of the Brutalist style.
The site’s heritage and a strong landscape setting were seen as opportunities for the renewal. However, the project had its challenges: transport, road access, bushfire, biodiversity, planning and a commitment to the community to open Day 1 Term 1 2019 (a very tight program). Urbis and the project team worked collaboratively to design a school that balances bushfire and access requirements with preserving the heritage values of the site and landscape setting. We worked closely with government agencies (RFS, OEH and RMS) and Council to resolve the design.
Urbis developed a complicated planning approval strategy to meet the program that included a state significant development application (EIS), exempt works package and REF package.
Against all the odds, Lindfield Learning Village opened its doors to the first intake of students on Day 1 Term 1 2019.
Heritage services included on-site heritage advice, Heritage Impact Statement, Conservation Management Plan, Schedule of Works and Interpretation Strategy. Planning services included approval strategy and advice, Environmental Impact Statement, Review of Environmental Factors and stakeholder engagement. Urbis will continue to work with SINSW and the project team to deliver the next phases of the development.
“Lindfield Learning Village is the culmination of true collaboration with project team, stakeholders and Government. We are proud to celebrate the site’s late 20th century architecture and its adaptive ability to revolutionise the way public school students learn and grow.