Ngākōroa Primary School

1 Rorotu Avenue, Karaka, Dury

Lisa Cavanagh, Principal

There’s a lot of research we know now, particularly coming out of Reggio spaces around the environment being the third teacher, so how we create those environments for children is pretty important to how safe they feel in a classroom.

It was really good to have that 3D video fly through, we could walk through with it in the empty spaces before they were furnished and make some decisions about the final furniture choices.

Even when the Prime Minister and our local MP Judith Collins popped in for our opening, they all commented on how beautiful the furniture looks, how the natural vibe, the colour schemes, the natural looking wood really helps to create a space that feels warm and welcoming and family like.

In a nutshell

Ngākōroa School was a blank slate, requiring both experience and attention to detail in order to create an environment which reflected the school’s narrative and vision.

From concept to fit out, we were able to support principal Lisa Cavanagh throughout the decision making journey coupling our design and project management skills with 2D plans and 3D fly throughs.

“..it was an empty shell with concrete floors and nothing on the walls. With the big 2D maps that had been provided by LSG and the teachers we were able to kind of move bits and pieces around and visualise the spaces… it was really good to have that 3D video fly through, we could walk through with it in the empty spaces before they were furnished and make some decisions about the final furniture choices.”

The result was a unique space tailored to the schools needs, incorporating biophilic elements, and elevating status of the environment to act as the third teacher.