Girls' education reaches new heights
News
St Aloysius College has announced a new $34 million home for its primary school in the heart of the city, complete with a rooftop play space and garden.
The Catholic girls’ school is embarking on the most significant development in its 145-year history to create a purpose-built ‘vertical primary school’ via redevelopment on the existing site.
Students have been involved in the design of the four-storey building which will cater for contemporary approaches to learning and diversity in state-of-the-art facilities including 22 classrooms over four levels and a 25-metre swimming pool.
It will also include learning ‘neighbourhoods’, breakout spaces, a high-tech STEM classroom, dedicated specialist learning zones including a music room and makerspace for primary student and sensory rooms.
The rooftop play area will have views across St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral and Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga.
The new building will be named after Sister Teresa Dunlevie who was the school’s headmistress from 1918 to 1944 and grew the school from a relatively small community to become one of Adelaide’s leading girls’ colleges.
St Aloysius College principal, Paddy McEvoy, said students and teachers had collaborated in design workshops and educational briefings with the architects and builders to ensure the new school delivers best-in-class facilities.
“Our new primary school is a purpose-designed space for our youngest students and will support teachers to create an exceptional learning environment,” she said.
“Our students and teachers have been involved in every step of the design process.
“The result is a modern and flexible building which includes shared learning commons and quiet areas to promote student agency in how and where they learn best.
“The inclusion of sensory rooms will also support the diverse needs of students.”
The project, which will be built by Schiavello and managed by RCP Australia, was co-designed by Grieve Gillett Architects and Hayball.
“In selecting Grieve Gillett Architects and Hayball to design the new facilities, we were impressed with their depth of experience in vertical primary schools as well as the strong representation of female architects within their teams,” Ms McEvoy said.
“These professional women consulted closely with our students in the design and planning stages, sparking curiosity for students and exposing them to strong female role models.
“Our founders, the Sisters of Mercy, were trailblazers, not least in laying the foundations for the past 145 years of proudly educating women in South Australia.
“For generations, St Aloysius College has supported the development of confident and compassionate young women, taking advantage of a diversity of learning experiences with the city on our doorstep.
“It is with great excitement that we now embark on the redevelopment of our primary school to enter the next era of innovative and modern learning for our youngest students.”
Building works have begun, following the demolition of the existing building in late 2024. The new primary school is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.
St Aloysius College has more than 1,100 enrolments from Reception to Year 12. The new primary school development will increase capacity following growing enrolments of students from Early Learning to Year 6.
A flythrough video can be viewed on the school website.
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