Opening in January 2025, the new IGS Kindergarten Centre has been designed by internationally renowned Australian architects BVN. Located in The Wright Building, incorporating Levels 1 and 2 and the outdoor Peace Garden, the new Centre will create an enchanting, safe, and nurturing learning environment for our children’s first year of school.
BVN’s concept for the Kindergarten space draws inspiration from the site’s rich cultural heritage, honouring the traditional custodians of the land, the Gadigal. Before European settlement, the area featured diverse landscapes, including sandy beaches, salt marshes, and mangrove forests, with the school built over what was once a creek. The design reflects the historical significance of the creek shoreline as a community gathering place.
Connection to place extends to First Nations practices, such as crafting performative possum skins. These skin cloaks, adorned with clan and Country markings, symbolise a deep connection to identity and culture. In the Kindergarten space, this metaphor will be brought to life through the use of tactile and immersive materials, enveloping occupants in a sense of cultural heritage and belonging.
“The Kindergarten Centre is one of our ten initiatives from the IGS Strategic Plan
Into the World. It’s part of our action to secure, improve and expand the campus for the benefit of our students. With BVN’s partnership and our community’s spirit, we’re crafting magic together, creating a Kindergarten Centre that will help us facilitate the exciting transformation of Early Childhood Education that is underway at IGS and across Australia.”
Ms Shauna Colnan – Principal
To gain community input and insights into this important project, BVN conducted a consultative workshop with educators and a parent/carer peer group. This workshop presented world-leading precedent imagery of learning environments for Kindergarten or similar year groups, to stimulate discussion. The group was then taken through a series of exercises to draw out the vision for what the formative years of IGS students’ learning are to look like.
Participants also had the opportunity to respond to a number of design provocations. Community consultation has been integral to the project development process for the new Centre.
Thank You to our Community
Your generous donations to the IGS Building Fund support this vital project.