Design lesson

By Lia Bichel
The fourth annual awards ceremony rewarded state-of-the-art designs in Victoria’s government schools, and the architects responsible for them.
Dandenong principal Martin Culkin said the award recognised the first design stage of a $45 million project.
“Stage one was seven identical learning centres that house 300 students each, and the award was a result of three of them,” he said.
“We are absolutely delighted with the outcome. We have occupied the space for six months now, and it’s been great. The centres are special spaces for the students to learn and work in.”
Mr Culkin said the design was a “home grown” design with a number of sustainable features that the school worked with the architect to create.
Education Minister Bronwyn Pike congratulated the school, which was also awarded Best Secondary School category, during the event.
“Leading architect Hayball pushed the boundaries with its design of this outstanding Victorian school,” she said.
“Dandenong High School has the latest environmentally sustainable design including energy efficient lighting, a skewed roof plane to increase natural light, shaded windows to prevent glare, skylights and open-plan learning spaces.
“Alongside adaptable learning areas sit art and science laboratories with work benches that extend into outdoor breakout spaces.”
The learning centres have been implemented to accommodate the merger of Dandenong High School, Cleeland High School and Doveton Secondary College, which occurred in 2001.
The next stages of the multi-million project include a physical education, theatre education and performing arts facility, with construction due to begin and finish in 2011.
That project will be followed by a design, technical and arts building.