Hope Centre – St Joseph’s School Port Lincoln

As at Caritas, upper primary classrooms are clustered in threes to support student and teacher collaboration. However, subtle distinctions between this design and the last demonstrate gentle moves towards fostering independence as students mature. Where classroom nooks at Caritas give younger students the chance to learn in different ways, the Hope Centre graduates these recesses into the larger breakouts, offering autonomy for older students away from formal instruction. Reorientation of lockers away from the larger breakout also renders this zone more intentional for gathering. Students now access their belongings in a shuttered bank outdoors, adjacent to stepped, curved decking beneath an established tree. This corner makes sensible use of the site’s steep slope, where an amphitheatre-like deck anchors as a focal point for gathering against the oval.

Back indoors, generous highlight windows within the breakout prioritise sky views and light access. Interiors are contemporary but homely, and slightly more mature in aesthetic. Snaking, suspended track lighting gestures the way between classrooms, while pops of citrus colour in seating nooks are just earthy enough to echo the warmth of the raked timber-panel ceiling.

A generous new canteen on the southwest corner is around 15 per cent larger than the existing, situated to remain centralised within the grounds. Service and storage layouts cater to students of all ages, while the kitchen zone amply provides for food preparation and storage requirements for a growing community. Delivered on time and under budget, the Hope Centre reflects the solid working relationship R&Y has maintained with St Joseph’s School Port Lincoln for more than 70 years.