North Melbourne Primary School Pays Homage To Its Architectural Heritage

The recent remodelling of North Melbourne Primary School is an award winning homage to the school's architectural heritage with a clever use of steel products to fulfil the aesthetic intentions within budget restrictions.

The remodel, which was awarded the AIA Victoria Chapter 2009 Public Architecture Award – Alterations and Additions, consisted of the creation of a new building, new parking lot and landscaping of the surrounding area, as well as the renovation of the east and central wings of the existing 1874 heritage building. It is a good example of what can be achieved architecturally through clever design within the constraints of the government school's procurement method, limited budget and design brief.

Designed by Workshop Architecture and built by Mackie Pty Ltd, the remodelling initially began with the heritage building which was returned closer to its original floor plan with heritage features preserved where possible.

BlueScope Steel was used to reinforce large new interventions, including partition walls and lintels that differentiated from the Victorian fabrics in detail and colour. Steel was chosen as it was the most economical solution for lintels over the large new openings required in the existing masonry walls.

The new building was designed to keep close to the edge of the site in a long narrow configuration in order to create an inner quadrangle. A polychrome pixelated brick plinth forms the base of the building and a hybrid system of galvanised steel columns, beams and purlins were used. Decking, made from LYSAGHT BONDEK®, was also used for its durability and flexibility.

Vertically banded, lightweight cladding material made from COLORBOND® steel in the colours Jasper®, Woodland Grey® and Bushland® spring from the base to a single colour roof, also made from COLORBOND® steel. The decision to use COLORBOND® steel was driven by the need to fulfil the design's aesthetic intentions whilst still remaining within the budgetary requirements.

The roofing, made from COLORBOND® steel in the colour Jasper® and profile LYSAGHT CUSTOM ORB® enabled the execution of the design of a long, shallow sloping roof to the south. A gable roof pitched along the length of the building also gives it a substantial presence on the street, providing variable ceiling heights to many of the interior spaces while encompassing the building's two and a half levels.