St Columba’s Primary School
Sustainability and/or Greening of a Heritage Place - Finalist
Owner: St Columba’s PS
Architect/Designer: Janene Byrne & Helen Todd Landscape Designers
In conjunction with a major building project, St Columbas Primary School was successful in retaining several existing, century old trees together with the original convent building located on Howard Street, Ballarat. This weatherboard building is integral to the overall enhancement of the project, linking our past history with the 21st century. With thorough consultation from the school community, a working design team created an open space strategy with the focus on maintaining heritage, creating a sustainable environment and providing an energetic, creative space to encourage the wellbeing of all the children.
Environment, educative and most importantly aesthetic improvements were successfully achieved by including; a 7 bed kitchen garden, herb garden, orchard, additional specimen trees and various decorate garden beds. Additional, water tanks, compost and various seating as well as a major upgrade to the playground and sporting/games facilities have also been incorporated into the project. The results are expressed through the children’s faces.
Retention of existing building:
Separate from the award but in line with good sustainability and conservation practice, the original 19th century convent building at St Columba's Primary School, rather than being demolished, was integrated into the new “Education Building Revolution” complex. The architect for this project was Fooks Martin Sandow Anson Pty Ltd.
There are positive social effects through the protection of places of cultural heritage significance for the benefit of current and future generations. The protection of these places will benefit the community through a better understanding of Ballarat’s rich cultural history, recognising and realising the positive contribution that culturally significant places make to the City of Ballarat and fostering a sense of local identity.
Sustainable retention and restoration of older buildings can save up to 95% of the energy normally consumed by all of the processes involved in the construction of a new building and helps reduce up to 40% of current landfill due to demolished building fabric.
Protection for heritage places will retain existing urban infrastructure and resources for current and future generations. The conservation of heritage places promotes sustainable development through conserving valuable resources and economising on materials.
Forests are home to 80% of our terrestrial biodiversity.
Currently deforestation, much of which is used for buildings, globally accounts for about 20% of global carbon dioxide emissions, which is greater than the entire transport sector around the world.