Westfields Sports High School | Fairfield West, NSW
The design has embraced a dynamic and flexible learning environment while providing a platform for continuous adaptation to future possibilities.
Client: Department of Education NSW
Location: Fairfield West, NSW
MODE Expertise: Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Graphic Design
Completion Date: 2020
Westfields Sports High School | Fairfield West, NSW
Commissioned for the design of a new learning facility, MODE has delivered a dynamic and flexible education environment for the students at Westfields Sports High School.
Westfields Sports High School is located within Sydney’s western suburbs and is surrounded by dense suburban development. The existing building block J was situated at the “heart of the school” also known as the “quadrangle”. This building was demolished and a new building was designed and constructed in its place to add 23 new state-of-the-art teaching spaces. The design has embraced a dynamic and flexible learning environment while providing a platform for continuous adaptation to future possibilities.
The new ‘Building S’ at Westfields Sports High School is a complex structure infusing contemporary school design philosophy encompassing a variety of programs which include workshops, science learning spaces, general learning spaces and staff study spaces. These spaces can be categorised into two primary types - the noisy and the quiet. It is this dichotomy that informed the architectural framework of producing both acoustic and visual separation between these two distinctive spaces.
The design responds to this framework with a collection of sculptural ‘shells’ enclosing each articulated volume within. These volumes produce captivating imagery alluding to different hosted programs and activities – from the noisy, hands-on workshop spaces, vibrant, bustling circulation and breakout spaces, to the quiet general learning spaces.
With a whole of life approach, MODE considered safety, durability, sustainability and maintenance requirements throughout the design and documentation process. Usage of external shading and solar photovoltaic panels are examples of passive and active strategies implemented in the building fabric design.
A close collaboration between MODE’s interior design and architecture teams alongside our talented graphic designer and landscape architects resulted in a coherent, dynamic and vibrant school building while encompassing all complexities of a diverse program.