Recent times have seen a boom in building education facilities, enabling some truly standout and forward-thinking designs.

The Pymble Ladies College Senior Centre, designed by multi-disciplinary international firm PMDL and officially opened at the end of January 2011, responds to the shifts in learning and growing needs of a new generation of students.

State-of-the-art technology and open, collaborative spaces characterise the fit-out, creating the perfect environment for a learning culture that promotes innovation, creativity and shared ideas.

“The concept of [a traditional] classroom is a thing of the past,” says PMDL Practice Director Peter Doddrell.

“We’re starting to see such a change. We use the term ’3D textbooks’ for education buildings – the building needs to talk to you. And it needs to provide some sense of place and space; you need to find private space, public space, publishing space, collaborative space – so that rather than just being classrooms, they reflect the way kids work.

“Kids are switched on. They don’t all work the same way. We all work differently.”

This focus on collaboration, innovation and diversity is very much a feature of all of PMDL’s work. The practice prides itself on eschewing a house style in favour of a truly personalised and interactive approach to each client and project.

“It’s not about getting a list and ticking the boxes and going ’yes, yes, yes’,” says PMDL Senior Associate Simon Fallon.

“It’s understanding psychology first, philosophy second – and getting stuck into it.”

PMDL are now working on the next iteration masterplan for potential new facilities for Pymble Ladies’ College – further forecasting the changing needs of a school environment.

“Why do kids go to school? They go for socialisation and to get a broader sense of understanding about the wider community,” Doddrell says.

“A school is like a little village, and you need to have these concepts in the context. PLC has been very aware of these things.”

PMDL
pmdl.com.au