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Our Projects: Pendle Hill High School in Sydney

Pendle Hill High School, a co-educational public institution in Western Sydney, serves over 400 students with a commitment to offering an outstanding, engaging learning environment. The school's recent addition, the H Block, proudly showcases office space for staff, a library, and 14 classrooms, all expertly designed to optimize the learning experience while promoting collaboration, creativity, and adaptability.

Office Line collaborated with the design team at Fulton Trotter Architects to deliver comprehensive educational furniture solutions, meeting the specific requirements of the school and its students. Our furniture selections included ergonomic desks, chairs, bookcases, and storage solutions that not only enhanced the functionality of each space but also contributed to the overall aesthetic appeal.

Some of the standout furniture pieces and spaces within the H Block include:

Shared Study Circles

Our Warwick Beachcomber fabric-upholstered Simba Chairs in Cobalt and Marine colours with a sleek black frame provide a stylish and comfortable seating option, while our tables with white writable tops and colour-matched edges create a surface for writing and sketching ideas.

These study circles are ideal for brainstorming and collaborative work, allowing students to share ideas and work together in a dynamic space. 

     
      

Workshop and Interview/Practice rooms

For the workshops/interview rooms we provide the I.AM table with writable top. Although another supplier provide the chairs, we would combine them with our Retro Chair 5 Star Swivel with Warwick Dolly Ash Fabrics, keeping that elegant and slay aesthetics.  

     

Library

This inviting space features an array of furniture promoting both individual and group study. Prive 3-Seater Lounges with finishes in Warwick Keylargo fabric upholstery create a semi-private seating area, while Spectator 45° Curved Inner High Back Lounge and Sit or Sway Ottomans offer flexible, comfortable seating options. I.AM Folding Tables, Spectator 45° Curved Bookcases & Benches with writable tops & colour matched edges transform the library into a multifunctional space for learning and collaboration. A dedicated quiet study area equipped with ergonomic chairs and individual study cubicles allows for focused work.

     

Seminar Rooms

Featuring I.AM Folding Tables in various sizes and finishes, these rooms can easily be reconfigured to accommodate different learning activities. The writable tops and mobile whiteboards enhance the flexibility and adaptability of these seminar rooms.

The result of our collaboration is a stunning and functional new block that has become the pride of Pendle Hill High School. The furniture we provided not only creates a comfortable and functional learning environment but also enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the building.

At Office Line, we take pride in providing our clients with the best possible solutions to meet their needs. We are delighted to have been a part of the Pendle Hill High School project and look forward to continuing to provide innovative and high-quality educational furniture solutions to schools, universities, offices, and councils across Australia.

 

5 ways to maximize space in a school library

School libraries play a vital role in creating a supportive learning environment for students. They offer a space where students can access resources and engage in meaningful learning experiences.

A well-designed library not only provides a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere but also helps to foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, through the use of innovative and practical furniture solutions. These solutions can help to increase efficiency, reduce stress, and create a dynamic and organized learning environment.

Libraries must be designed with ergonomic furniture, ample lighting, and a comfortable temperature to create an environment conducive to learning and research. Moreover, a library designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities, such as adjustable height tables and comfortable seating, can promote inclusiveness and accessibility.

Maximising space utilisation in a school library can be challenging, but with the right furniture, it's easier than you think. Here are five ways to utilise the furniture to its full potential and create a functional, stylish, and organised library environment that promotes learning and creativity.

1. Mobile Bookcases

Bookcases are a staple in every library, but traditional ones can take up a lot of floor space and limit the number of books that can be stored. Using furniture pieces with castors allows you to create different learning spaces by relocating the units depending on the activities you are working on.

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2. Comfortable Lounges with Built-in Storage

Adding comfortable lounges to your library creates a cosy reading nook and extra seating for students. Look for lounges with built-in storage to keep books, magazines, and other materials organised, saving floor space and making the library look tidy.

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3. Space-Saving Storage Solutions

Instead of cluttering your library with piles of books, consider incorporating storage solutions that make the most of your floor space. From rolling carts to wall-mounted shelving, there are plenty of options to choose from that are both practical and stylish.

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4. Multi-Purpose Furniture

Maximise your library's functionality by choosing pieces that serve multiple purposes. Consider adaptable tables and lounges that integrate with other furniture.

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5. Collaborative Furniture

Encourage group work and collaboration by incorporating furniture that encourages interaction and teamwork. This type of furniture creates a welcoming atmosphere and fosters creativity and collaboration among students. From round tables to comfortable couches, there are many options to choose from that promote a sense of community in your library.

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A library that has a proper layout and organisation can increase efficiency and reduce stress for students and staff alike. In short, investing in a well-designed library is not just about improving the appearance of the learning space; it's about creating a functional and supportive environment that promotes collaboration, creativity, and wellness.

 

The right furniture solution can transform your school library into a dynamic, organised, and functional space that promotes learning and creativity. Invest in innovative library furniture today to optimise space utilisation, increase functionality, and enhance the overall aesthetic of your library.

Our Projects: Peter Carnley Anglican Community School

 

Peter Carnley Anglican Community School's latest addition to their already impressive facilities, is The Hub, an Innovative and flexible learning centre. This space includes a senior reading lounge, collaborative spaces for E-learning, meeting/multi-purpose rooms, and a junior library area. The Office Line team worked hard to design and furnish a magnificent space which promotes creativity and collaboration, and exceed the school’s needs and expectations. 

COLOURS AND FABRICS

Finishes are a very important part of our projects. In this case our interior design team selected Laminex’s Seasoned Oak, a soft warm oak with subtle grain, and Warwick Fabric’s Gravity range in Pomegranate, Navy and Forest shades. The Gravity fabric was chosen for its heavy commercial properties, calm muted tones, and subtle tactile herringbone texture. These selections help the educational furniture support flexible learning and create a comfortable and inviting space for students to learn, read and collaborate. 

SENIOR READING LOUNGE

We designed a comfortable, open space that takes advantage of natural light coming in from the 12m span of windows. The curved Spectator Bookcase Collection with round I.AM tables and Eduflex Ottomans creates a perfect area for students to sit and work together, with ample shelving and relaxed bench seating below the windowsill. Ponder Lounges and joiner ottomans are also used as casual seating throughout the learning space, with a low 850h back and many configuration options to suit different group sizes. 

 

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MAIN COLLABORATIVE SPACE

This 21st century learning space was designed to be flexible and encourage students to share ideas and engage in E-learning activities. It’s thrilling to see students fill this area with colours and vibrancy as they interact freely. The large U-Shaped Spectator Bench Setting seats up to 32 students and the wrap around benching combined with Eduflex Laptop Tables in the centre enable the use of devices, and foster the open, collaborative nature of this learning space. 

 

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THE JUNIOR FICTION

This area is benchmarked by a Office Line’s Swell Collection, that was designed and manufactured specifically for the project. It offers 3 tiers of seating with 3 different heights: 300h, 450h and 600h for students to sit, read and learn in their own way. This space also has clusters of Spectator Bookcase Lounges in 90-degree segments around circular I.AM tables that provide an attractive surface for all reading, learning and creative activities of the younger students. 

 

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Book Browser Boxes were custom made to provide multiuse storage for larger picture books and hard cover children's books, as well as a display section in the lower sides. They are mobile and manufactured in the same Laminex colours as the bookcases and table tops. 
       
      

Office Line’s portion of this fantastic project was successfully completed on time and within budget, fully meeting our clients expectation. Our team is delighted with the final outcome and would like to thank the school management for their trust and support throughout the process. Their confidence in the team's expertise in design and product selection was instrumental in the success of the project, and we were proud to be able to support their expectation along the journey with our market leading communication and personal support.

At Office Line we genuinely care about our clients!  

Newman College Case Study

Newman College embraces creativity and innovation in their learning spaces and knows how important these environments are to the education, wellbeing and interactions of their students. That is why we, at Office Line, felt privileged to be able to support them in refurbishing their main learning Hub.

The St John Henry Newman Learning Hub is a key facility at Newman College, featuring a main open plan learning space, with breakout rooms, meeting areas and lecture theatre branching off. The three-story building provides modern collaboration spaces, and state of the art learning resources for students to work together and individually.

Emmanuel College - McAuley Library

Emmanuel College Warrnambool is a dynamic Catholic learning Community that is growing its reputation as an education leader, and we are proud to have worked with them over a number of years.

The McAuley Library is an exciting and welcoming space with many different collaborative and focus areas, for both staff and students. The refurbished building includes modern spaces for classes, a relaxed area for students wishing to study or have a game of chess, and functional spaces for small group work.

21st Century Libraries: Innovative Library Designs of Tomorrow

Libraries are no longer areas where students research subjects alone, they have become collaborative hubs, areas for self-directed learning and group activities.

Our expert in-house designer states transforming a traditional library space can be a quick and simple process.  Replacing towering, static shelving with adaptable furniture and low mobile bookcases is recommended to keep the space open and inviting. Small rooms can be opened up to allow for group projects, with circulation desks and various sized seating. Even desktops can be turned into writeable whiteboard spaces to encourage collaboration and sharing that previous library spaces had discouraged. It is recommended to provide a space within the library for students to socialise and relax before and after school, and during their study breaks.

Libraries that consist of varying spaces can also accommodate movie and quiz nights, teacher/parent nights and co-curricular activities outside general school hours. Case studies have shown that libraries that include several collaborative teaching and student spaces, staff offices, professional development areas and student lounges with flexible furniture are conducive to better teacher/student interaction.

Teachers are looking to create more vibrant, active learning spaces rather than the traditional place of silence. Students can gather, work in small groups but still be open to a transparent space where learning can be seen without barriers. Libraries of tomorrow will become spaces to encourage exploration, creativity and collaboration between both students, teachers and parents alike.

Investing in quality lounge furniture, soft seating, sturdy library tables and comfortable study carrels should be every school library’s main priority. Office Line can assist you create a learning hub for your school and encourage teachers and students to collaborate, communicate, and share. View our special Library Furniture Collection to get started!