UWA Early Learning Centre

Designed by Hames Sharley, the UWA Early Learning Centre is an environmentally sustainable design with a fun environment for children to play, learn, and explore.⁠⁠

Nestled into a quiet, leafy corner of the UWA campus, the building’s single-storey scale and residential character relate well to the neighbouring residential area. ⁠⁠

The centre is contained within a walled perimeter that meets noise emission regulations and acts as a secure barrier for the facility. ⁠⁠

The building comprises three linked wings accessed through a controlled, single entrance at the central reception and administration.

A high level of environmentally sustainable design has been achieved with the inclusion of northerly orientated large and operable windows enabling cross ventilation and solar pergolas to north-facing elevations.

The facility includes zone indicators that provide information on energy consumption and act as an educational tool for children.

The key design challenges for this project included:

Designing a high-quality learning environment that encourages spontaneous and serendipitous events.
Creating a space to coincide with the belief that children learn through play and that childhood should be filled with fun, wonder and exploration.
Designing an early learning centre that will be an example for future centres.
Creating a design that allows different sections to be opened or closed for the different age groups and their relative sections.
Controlling the egress from pick up and drop off.
Providing a natural play environment with maximum natural light whilst ensuring shaded areas are included.

All of these challenges were successfully addressed to deliver an early learning centre that incorporates an environmentally sustainable design with a fun environment for children to play, learn, and explore.

Project Details

Project Budget – $4,500,000

Project Team

Architecture, Interior Design, Landscaping, Photography

Hames Sharley

The practice has designed numerous multi-award-winning projects across the disciplines of architecture, interior design, urban design, planning, and landscape design.

www.hamessharley.com.au