New South Wales
Empire Vale Public School
Elevated 3 metres above ground for flood resilience, the new school features a state-of-the-art learning environment. Engaged by School Infrastructure NSW, Modscape employed Modern Methods of Construction to deliver climate-resilient infrastructure with minimal disruption to the community.
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2024
Year Completed
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1,060m²
Floor Area
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27
Modules
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3
Classrooms
Project Specifications
1,060m² of learning spaces, common and multi-purpose learning space, canteen, covered outdoor learning area, library, front of house, sick bay, clerical, staff room, principal office and amenities, comms room and store rooms.
Credits
Client: School Infrastructure NSW
Head Contractor: ADCO
Architect: Pedavoli Architects.
Photography by The Guthrie Project
After the catastrophic floods in the Northern Rivers back in February and March 2022 that caused extensive damage to several schools, Modscape + Modbotics was engaged to design and build six new flood resilient schools for School Infrastructure NSW, including the Empire Vale Public School.
This award-winning educational facility, built using 27 volumetric modules and 7 roof cassettes, combines functionality with adaptability to meet the needs of modern learning. It features 3 general learning spaces, a collaborative learning common, and a multi-purpose area, providing flexible environments for teaching and group activities. A canteen and Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA) offer spaces for social interaction and outdoor learning, while the library serves as a quiet space for study and exploration.
The school was designed with the capacity to withstand possible future flooding events. Key resilience measures include raising the core school facilities 3 meters above ground on a steel gantry structure, using durable materials throughout, and designing ground-level amenities that are easy to clean and restore if inundated with water.
In addition, many of the buildings were reoriented or relocated to a more suitable location within their site.
