This building was designed with contemporary forms and material palettes to be sympathetic to the other buildings on the Fiona Stanley Hospital site.
It is hard to believe it took just 14 months from the initial concept to handover
for this contemporary childcare centre to be completed.
Parry & Whyte Architects were challenged with creating a modern and inviting childcare facility that would correspond with the opening of the Fiona Stanley Hospital. Making use of bright, bold colours, the design was to be from a child's perspective, while paying respect to nature through an outside nature-themed playscape.
The shape of the north-facing site enabled the building to be designed so that all activity spaces could open onto a wide verandah facing the outdoor play area.
Passive solar design techniques, including a Solartube roof daylighting system with an electric dimmer control feature, were employed. Other materials selected include a timber trussed roof structure, commercial AWS aluminum windows and door framing, acrylic render finishes, Colorbond roofing, and steel-framed external walls clad with Masterwall panels.
The external colour palette was evolved from a series of colours from nearby buildings to continue the architectural language.
Parry & Whyte Architects also had to adhere to strict access codes and ensure the new facility was wheelchair-compliant and child-friendly, with rooms for babies, commercial on-site kitchen for meals, and viewing windows in classrooms and outside, at eye level for children's and adults.
PROJECT PROFILE
Susan Teather Early Learning & Development Centre
ARCHITECT | Parry & Whyte Architects
BUILDER | Brookfield Multiplex
BRIEF | Design a contemporary childcare facility on a restricted site within the hospital to accommodate 102 children ranging from zero to five years old. The aesthetics were to complement the other buildings on the hospital's site.
LOCATION | Grounds of the Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch