St James Catholic Primary School

Client

Harmer Architecture worked with St James School staff and MACS Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools.

Context

St James is located in a residential area in Centre Road Vermont.

Brief

The proposed new admin building for St James has created a new entrance to the school and a notable presence within the neighbouring community.

The new building includes a new reception, offices, sick bay, meeting rooms, staff amenities, and a new accessible lift at the rear of the building to provide an accessible path of travel from the admin building level down to the existing school main central courtyard.

Design Intent

We call this project a new learning pathway. The primary design focus is accessibility from the street to the heart of the school. Universal access using ramps that form an integral part of the main circulation within the building create open access for everyone, thereby engaging with the community in a physical sense.

A generous weather protected front porch and connecting foyer creates a welcoming place for all staff, students and visitors. The new entrance creates the all-important positive first impression for new parents and makes wayfinding easy and legible.

The entry portico features a contemporary version of the Christian cross highlighted with coloured glass to remind visitors of the Catholic identity as the basis of the mission of the school.

This project was completed in late 2024.