Horsham Special School

In March 2021, Kennedy Nolan was engaged to provide Principal Design Consultant services for the upgrade and modernisation of Horsham Special School. Located 2KM north-west of the Horsham town centre, adjacent to Horsham College and community oval, the school caters to students ranging from 5 to 18 years of age with mild to severe intellectual disability. It has a broad catchment with students coming from 150KM away.

The proposed project comprises of two new buildings, refurbishment works and site and landscaping works. A new Senior Hub replaces the existing dilapidated MOD 5 relocatable and aims to support Individual Education Plans for senior students. The layout provides three north facing learning spaces opening to a protected external learning area with direct connection to the senior play area including a new half hard court and designated car detailing zone.

The creation of an Adaptable Resource Centre along the eastern boundary of the school provides a new face to the community.  Accessible to all wings of the school it provides a series of practical activity spaces as well as commercial style kitchen facilities, which can be utilized by all year levels across the school providing much needed resource intensive areas.

Staff work centers have also been created within the new facilities to address the significant shortfall in staff work areas and support the development of professional learning communities.

Landscaping works to both the Junior and Senior play areas enable the connection to learning spaces and provide opportunity for both physical and passive outdoor recreation.

Upgrade and refurbishment works to some existing spaces ensures the school can teach in modern, permanent facilities, support those in need, and accommodate a growing number of enrolments.