Delivering purpose-built classrooms for Kaurna Plains School

SHAPE delivered new general learning areas for the Department for Education SA, providing purpose-built spaces for Kaurna Plains School in Elizabeth, South Australia. The school had been operating out of makeshift areas and urgently needed modern facilities to support day to day learning and senior student preparation. The project was completed over an 18 week program, made possible by the speed, efficiency and reduced on site disruption offered by modular construction.

The new buildings were manufactured and installed using eleven modules that formed three general learning areas, a special learning area with a kitchen and amenities block with staff toilets and an assisted WC. Much of the construction occurred off site in a controlled environment which improved safety, reduced weather impacts and allowed site preparation to progress in parallel. A large deck and canopy, built on site, link the buildings and create a practical outdoor extension to the classroom spaces.

Cultural identity was a central focus for the school, and the new buildings were designed in colours that reflect the colours of the Aboriginal flag. Kaurna language plays throughout the school day, including the Kaurna language school bells used for study breaks, and the new spaces were intentionally designed to support this cultural learning environment. Students watched the module installation from a designated viewing area and staff expressed genuine gratitude for the upgrade, noting the immediate improvement to teaching delivery and student engagement. The project also carried personal meaning for the team, with delivery led by an Aboriginal site foreman and contributions from a local plumber who once attended the school.

Despite unexpected underground services and significant rain prior to module delivery affecting crane pad preparation, the team worked closely with the Department for Education to manage impacts and maintain momentum. The completed facilities now provide Kaurna Plains School with modern, culturally aligned learning environments that will support the community long into the future.