Loxton High School had a number of transportable classrooms in need of upgrading to permanent accommodation. The Building Better Schools Program allocated funds to Loxton High School to demolish existing “temporary classrooms” and replace them with new. Loxton High School is located on two campuses, with the Agricultural teaching area across Bookpurnong Road from the main campus. The design brief from the DfE was to replace the Agricultural teaching building, a timber transportable and also to replace six metal framed transportables located adjacent to a recently completed STEM building. Also in the brief, there were upgrades to the Gymnasium and the Technical Studies areas.

The construction of the new buildings was economical well-insulated timber framed walls on concrete slabs and light metal roofs.

The Agricultural building was located adjacent to various sheds, chook runs and existing vegetable gardens and vineyards. Accommodations for the redevelopment included two Teaching Areas(GLA’s), a staff room and an adjoining covered open teaching and preparation area.

The second stage was the construction of six GLA’s on the main campus in a similar construction to the Agricultural building. This building was sited adjacent to the School Oval, which was a sloping site and newly constructed Stem building. Our design concept included paying respect to the previously constructed STEM Building in scale, materials and colours. The linkage between the Stem and new GLA’s is via new Pergola and Covered Outdoor Learning Area.

Sustainable features include windows of GLA’s facing north, a large roof overhang on the north for shade as well as weather protection, and also windows facing south for views to the oval. Cross ventilation has been achieved with opening sashes and high-level operable windows in Learning Street. Walls were thicker than normal frames and highly insulated. Internal materials chosen included recycled bricks, linoleum flooring and best practice mechanical systems.

The GLA’s are now occupied by year 7 students.