Kilbirnie School Admin & Hall
Upgrading the existing 99 year old Administration Block was deemed uneconomic by the Ministry of Education. This was demolished and a new Admin/Hall and Learning Suite were constructed in two stages. This Admin and Hall building includes the normal range of offices and staff facilities plus a 150sqm hall and attached multipurpose room.
Kilbirnie School is located on a tight inner suburban site with three road frontages resulting in three points of entry; the new Administration building is located at the primary entrance adjacent to the staff car park. Separation of pedestrian and vehicle access routes into the school was a key component of the design as was the desire to retain the open space to the north of the neighbouring Playcentre.
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A dynamic mix of mono-pitched roofs solves the issue of light and ventilation to these spaces with the Hall receiving both north light and cross ventilation from a southern clerestory and in the Admin portion a northern clerestory brings sun and light into the reception and offices on the south side of the building.
Two curved verandahs along each end of the building are interrupted by a glazed canopy to identify the main entry. This entry is central to the Hall, Multipurpose Room and Reception and forms a transition space between these and the exterior.
A healthy, energy conscious interior environment was created through high levels of insulation, good daylighting and cross flow ventilation. The use of durable materials create a low maintenance exterior; a high priority for the school.
