Blogs — stem classroom

Our Projects: St. Stephen's Duncraig | New Science Building

Office Line is proud to have been part of creating an amazing new science building at St Stephen’s School in Duncraig, Western Australia. The school's newly renovated science building stands as a testament to the power of design and functionality in inspiring students and educators alike. By partnering with St Stephen’s School, we were able to deliver innovative furniture solutions that perfectly complement the building’s modern aesthetic and support the school’s educational goals.

St Stephen’s School embarked on an ambitious project to transform its science facilities, creating a space that would foster creativity, collaboration, and innovation. The new science building, a remarkable 2000m² facility, houses eight dedicated laboratories, each with a unique theme catering to various scientific disciplines. The building also boasts a spacious forum area, ideal for presentations and group work.

Tailored Furniture Solutions

To equip these state-of-the-art laboratories, Office Line provided a combination of EN Stools, science benches and storage solutions. These furniture pieces were carefully selected to meet the specific needs of the science curriculum, ensuring optimal functionality and durability.

• EN Stools: Designed with ergonomics in mind, the EN stools offer students and teachers comfort and support during extended laboratory sessions. Their adjustable height and durable construction make them suitable for various tasks, from conducting experiments to engaging in group discussions.

• Science Benches: The science benches provide a sturdy and versatile workspace for students to conduct experiments and explore scientific concepts. Their design incorporates features such as integrated storage and electrical outlets, enhancing efficiency and organization within the laboratory.

Transforming Learning Experiences

The integration of Office Line furniture has had a profound impact on the learning experience at St Stephen’s School. The EN stools and science benches have facilitated hands-on experimentation, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students.

Furthermore, the furniture’s design promotes collaboration and teamwork, as students are able to work together comfortably and efficiently. The flexibility of the furniture allows for various classroom configurations, enabling teachers to adapt to different teaching styles and learning needs.

By working closely with the school’s staff and the architect leading the project, Office Line was able to understand their specific requirements and deliver furniture solutions that exceeded expectations. This collaborative approach ensured that the furniture seamlessly integrated into the building’s design and supported the school’s educational goals.

We are proud to have played a role in creating such an exceptional learning environment at St Stephen’s School. The new science building is a shining example of how thoughtfully designed furniture can enhance the educational experience.

For more details of this project visit: A new space inspiring minds in St. Stephen's Website. 

Our Projects: St. Kieran Catholic Primary School

In today's ever-evolving educational landscape, creating classrooms that cater to diverse learning styles and foster a love of learning is paramount. At Office Line, we believe that thoughtfully designed furniture plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. This case study delves into the design and furnishing of a classroom at St. Kieran Primary School, showcasing how we collaborated with the school to create a space that prioritises flexibility, functionality, and aesthetics.

St. Kieran Primary School approached us with a vision for a classroom that could adapt to various learning activities, encourage collaboration, and spark student creativity. Their existing classroom furniture was not able to adapt to the new learning activities and needed a renovation. We understood the need to create a space that catered to the individual needs of students while also fostering a sense of community and engagement.

Enhancing Flexibility:

• Adaptable Seating: We introduced a range of seating options to accommodate different learning styles and activities. The EN One chair, a perennial favorite, provides ergonomic support for developing backs and can be easily stacked for quick classroom reconfiguration. Additionally, the inclusion of Adjusta Stools with their rotating bases encourages active sitting, promoting increased focus and improved blood flow. This combination allows students to choose between traditional seated learning and a more dynamic approach, fostering ownership of their learning experience.

• Mobile Tables: Understanding the importance of collaborative learning, we incorporated Eduflex Classic Flip Tables. Built with sturdy materials and equipped with wheels, these tables empower students to arrange the classroom layout to suit their needs. Whether working in groups on projects or gathered for discussions, these flexible tables allow for a dynamic learning environment.

Encouraging Functionality:

• Play & Store Units: Gone are the days of bulky, static desks. We included Play & Store units, innovative storage solutions that double as comfortable tables. This ingenious design maximises space utilization, fostering organization and reducing clutter. Students can store their personal belongings within the units while enjoying a convenient workspace for individual tasks.

• Writable Tables: Recognizing the importance of fostering creativity, particularly in the early learning stages, we included a set of writable tables. These tables allow students to express themselves freely through drawing and visual thinking, directly engaging with their ideas and fostering a love for exploration. This hands-on approach promotes early learning development and sparks their imagination.

    

Creating a Stimulating Aesthetic:

A classroom environment should be visually engaging and contribute to a positive learning experience. We collaborated with St. Kieran Primary School to develop a vibrant color scheme incorporating green, blue, and red. These colors are known to promote positive emotions, spark creativity, and enhance focus. Studies have shown that a well-designed classroom with a stimulating aesthetic can lead to increased student engagement and improved learning outcomes.

The transformed classroom at St. Kieran Primary School exemplifies how thoughtful furniture choices can significantly impact the learning environment. The flexible seating and movable tables empower students to take ownership of their learning space and foster collaboration. The functional storage solutions promote organization and maximize space utilization. Finally, the stimulating aesthetic creates a fun and playful environment that ignites a love for learning.

Our collaboration with St. Kieran Primary School demonstrates our commitment to creating innovative and functional learning spaces. We believe that every child deserves a classroom that inspires them to learn and grow. We are dedicated to working with educators to translate their vision into reality, fostering a love of learning for students of all ages.

Our Projects: Victoria Park Christian School

Victoria Park Christian School is a unique educational institution committed to offering an outstanding education while embracing the power of nature-inspired learning. With a focus on delivering a holistic education that integrates outdoor classrooms and nature play areas, the school strives to create an inspiring educational environment.

In partnership with Office Line, Victoria Park Christian School undertook a project to furnish its new teaching block, including four General Learning Areas (GLAs) for early learning years and a small admin area. The school sought furniture that not only provided functionality but also aligned with its vision for a natural aesthetic, complementing the nature-play playground in front of the classrooms.

 Project Overview:

The project involved the design and furnishing of the new teaching block at Victoria Park Christian School, in collaboration with Matthews & Scavalli Architects. The facility included four GLAs designed for Pre Primary, Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 students, accommodating 24 children per GLA. Additionally, a small administrative area with three workspaces was created. An existing GLA for Kindy students was also part of the project.

To meet the school's vision of a natural aesthetic and durability, Office Line provided a range of furniture and soft furnishings, including:

• Cubs Range: Developed specifically for early learning years, this furniture range was chosen for its practicality and comfort. The range includes many types of furniture, such as tables, chairs, stools and benches – all made from high-quality solid European beech. Each piece has been designed and manufactured with children in mind.  Sharp edges and corners have been removed, and non-toxic raw materials have been used throughout.

• Tetris Lounges: These lounges offer flexible seating options for students and teachers, contributing to a dynamic learning environment.

• Flexistack Units: Versatile and space-efficient, these units facilitate organised storage and seating arrangements in the classrooms. Combining the Gratnells trays and runners with a full melamine cabinet, they are available with various tray combinations, and we even offer a model with a comfortable seat pad to meet the needs of any flexible learning area.

• Teacher's Armchair (Saba): These armchairs, with timber legs and upholstered in Rosie Paine Fabric, provide a comfortable and stylish seating option for educators. Moreover, embrace the Aboriginal culture and teach kids about it from an early age. 

• Heavy-Duty Bean Bags: Designed to withstand daily use, these bean bags offer students a comfortable and flexible seating alternative. They are also a great alternative for neurodiverse kids. 
• Dot Mats: These mats provide a soft and clean surface for various classroom activities.

• Custom Eduflex Square Desks: Three 1500x1500 square desks were customised for Year 1 to allow for group activities and collaborative learning.
• Play and Sensory Furniture: Various play and sensory furniture items, including a Shopping/Theatre Stand, dress-up trolley, and Play Kitchen, were incorporated to enhance interactive and imaginative learning.

The choice of fabric was critical to achieving the desired aesthetic and durability. Combining Rosie Made fabrics and Warwick Key largo in shades like 'Navy,' 'Sky,' 'Atlantic,' 'Marigold,' 'Paprika,' and 'Pumpkin' created a vibrant and cozy atmosphere in the classrooms. Office Line also provided Eduflex Bean Bags in 'Red' and 'Dark Blue' Marine grade vinyl to match the school's colour scheme.

The partnership between Office Line and Victoria Park Christian School resulted in a teaching block seamlessly integrating with the school's commitment to nature-inspired learning. The furniture selected not only met functional requirements but also contributed to a welcoming and nurturing environment. The chosen materials and fabric ensured longevity and ease of maintenance, aligning with the school's vision of providing an outstanding and sustainable educational experience for its students.

The power of flexible learning spaces

In recent years, more schools are beginning to adopt learning spaces that allow students to work in different spaces that facilitate more open-ended learning and collaboration. Students and teachers alike have been celebrating these new types of learning environments that encourage students to take ownership over their own learning and be accountable for their own education.

The idea of letting children play and learn without the constraints of a formal classroom is not new; both Montessori and Waldorf schools, for example, are based on this idea. But it has been difficult to measure the effect these environments have comparing with a traditional classroom setting.

A study performed by the Gensler Research Institute measured the impact on students' attention and engagement in an enhanced learning environment, one that was flexible and mobile enough to provide students with opportunities to choose their own activities, learn from one another, and engage in hands-on work. The results found that students in the enhanced space spent less time learning from the teacher and more from one another and by themselves, reporting an increase in the efficacy across all learning modes—that is, an improvement in their ability to focus, collaborate, acquire, and convey information in the learning space.

The research also showed a higher productivity and commitment, thanks to the feeling of support by having the chance to work collaboratively with one another in a social setting and experiencing greater feelings of connectedness, which further create a positive association toward the school itself.

In addition to this, the role of presenter seamlessly shifts between teacher and student; as such, they were able to interact with the material at a deeper level than they could have when they were passive receptacles for information.

If you're interested in creating your own flexible learning space, there are some simple changes you can make. Many people are surprised to find that there is a huge difference between an ordinary classroom and a classroom designed to allow for flexibility in learning.

At Office Line, we believe education can be transformed by design, which is why our goal is to create spaces that support collaboration, bring students and teachers together and encourage creativity, our expertise can help you create the perfect space for your school.

Our experts are ready to assist you on the journey. give us a call 1800 762 460 or email us: info@officeline.com.au

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