Kingsland+ were commissioned to provide complete architectural services for the new additions to Father FX O’Reilly Catholic School.

The existing school was in need of an expansion to accommodate increased student population and decreased pupil placement loading by providing additional spaces for teaching. As such, the new 850 square metres of additions included six new regular classrooms and two new kindergarten classrooms.

Kingsland+ was also requested to incorporate a new chapel into the program even though there was no funding for this space. We saw this as an opportunity to correct the disastrous existing main entrance to the school and bring life and a focal point, clearly seen from the street, identifying both the entrance and catholic nature of the building. An under used storage room adjacent to the existing main entrance was utilised and a small addition was added to create the new chapel.

The chapel features a light, translucent stained glass crystal-like corner that appears to bear the weight of a heavy precast concrete cross. The overbearing juxtaposition is a deliberate attempt at catching the attention of approaching visitors or passers-by, to create a tension that the visitor interacts with as the cross angles away appearing to be supported by the fragile, glass façade.

This intervention of chapel, c/w crucifix and stained glass, and the new entry consisting of new entrance doors and canopy, serves to heighten the awareness of the school and main entrance and makes it more noticeable from the street, parking lot and provides better supervision both inside and outside the main entrance. The administration office was given a new facelift in order to help tie in the other additions for a more comprehensive whole. This was all completed within the school’s budget.