The award-winning renovation of Methodist Ladies College in Sydney displays an innovative design process centred around adaptable, inclusive learning.
Development of the new Senior School was led by designers BVN in collaboration with Business Interiors who began the project with a thorough research phase to better understand the needs of students and staff while deepening into contemporary understandings of optimal learning spaces.
This diverse project spans across four floors featuring a mix of collaborative work environments alongside private study spaces, science labs, a theatre, kitchens and outdoor spaces. In addition to the functional considerations of the school, this new environment also needed to support the wellbeing and comfort of up to 1,000 students at a time.
The MLC new build and refurbishment framework was to incorporate the new pedagogical model for learning. To encourage valuing technology-enabled collaborative learning styles. The process involved workshops with both students and staff to encourage thinking about learning and an adaptive environment that facilitates the new pedagogical learning model.
Entering the building now there’s a sophistication to it. We created an environment where students from the primary school could come into this next level of learning.
After extensive product testing and modelling with end-users, furniture from Buro Seating was selected for many parts of the school due to their capacity for customisation and state of the art ergonomics. The seating needed to suit the learning requirements, space and aesthetics of the building.
The fit-out consisted of various Konfurb branded seating being placed into the 3 level science block, in a variety of spaces including; science labs, classrooms and open collaborative spaces. This included: Konfurb Fly Tables, Konfurb Star and Konfurb Quest Cantilever Chair.
The Konfurb Fly Sled designed for Buro by Claudio Bellini features a flexible polypropylene shell moulded to the human form. With the ability to be stacked, arranged and adapted to a range of different configurations. This chair is elegant yet durable enough to withstand daily use in a school environment.
By using powder coated frames, additional swivel tablets, upholstered seat pads and full custom upholstery, the space suits every learning requirement of a high school.
