Northern Territory
Dripstone Middle School’s STEAM Centre represents a bold new shift in innovation and modern educational practices, promoting inquiry-based learning, collaborative peer-to-peer interaction, and cutting-edge technology.
The state-of-the-art facility fosters learning across Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics and features a makerspace, robotics laboratory, green room, digital printing room and outdoor learning space and yarning circle.
The makerspace is integral to the centre and provides various learning and creative environments tailored to diverse educational needs. Traditional class settings, booths for focused activities, and high tables equipped with convenient drop-down power points for hands-on learning create a dynamic and interactive space.
The new STEAM Centre is an example of excellence in educational design and is a space that nurtures exploration and experimentation and equips students with essential skills for current and future employment opportunities.
Commendation for Educational Architecture
Dripstone Middle School – STEAM by Hames Sharley is a high-quality refurbishment of an under-utilised teaching space into a flexible and contemporary learning environment for inquisitive young minds to thrive.
Facilitating strong visual and physical connections within and beyond the space via the introduction of extensive glazing and access to external breakout areas, the considered programming response together with bold graphics and colour purposefully connect the school’s identity with the Bauhaus and deliver a space for educators to inspire imagination and creativity.
The Jury commend Hames Sharley for their impactful work on this project as it will inspire students to pursue career pathways in industries that will underpin the Northern Territory economy for years to come.
I see an excitement in learning because of this new space as it has been purposely built to allow our students to have a space to work on their scientific inquiry, creativity, and problem-solving skills, preparing them as lifelong learners and as global citizens.
This space allows teachers to walk side by side with students as they pursue creativity and innovation when exploring new challenges and developing their creativity, innovation, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills as well as technology literacy.
Despina Rossides, Project Lead
Adam Prentice, Project Principal
Pritchard Francis, Structural Engineer
Lucid Consulting, Services Consultant
Donald Cant Watts Corke, Quantity Surveyor
Bestec, Acoustic Consultant
BCA Concepts, Building Surveyor
Clouston Associates, Landscape Consultant
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
