Albany Primary School Outdoor Learning Transformation
Siteworks transformed an underutilised grass bank at Albany Primary School into a safe, practical, and highly usable outdoor learning space.
With student numbers increasing and pressure growing on indoor teaching areas, the school needed a smart, cost-effective way to create more usable space. By reshaping the bank, improving access, and integrating better drainage, Siteworks delivered a flexible outdoor area that supports learning, movement, and everyday school use.
Transforming Unused Space into Innovative Learning Environments
Albany Primary School had experienced a significant increase in student numbers, placing pressure on existing teaching spaces. Areas such as staff rooms and libraries were being repurposed as classrooms to accommodate the growing roll.
The school, together with Robert Palmer at Educational Building Services, engaged Siteworks to create additional learning space in a practical and cost-effective way.
An underutilised grass bank was identified as an opportunity to create a safe, functional outdoor learning environment, while also improving the overall usability and drainage performance of the site.
The result was a smart transformation of a previously unusable bank into a safe, multi-use space designed for learning, movement, and student engagement.
The Goal
The key objective was to provide a practical and cost-effective solution that would relieve pressure on indoor teaching spaces while improving the way the school used its outdoor areas.
The project needed to:
- Provide additional space for classes without constructing new buildings
- Create a safe and engaging environment for students
- Make better use of an underperforming area of the school site
- Improve drainage and long-term site performance
- Deliver a high-value solution within strict budget requirements
The project also needed to support modern teaching methods by creating a flexible space that could be used throughout the school day.
The CHALLENGE
The existing grass bank had potential, but it was steep, difficult to use, and offered limited value to the school in its original condition.
Key challenges included:
- A steep and largely unusable grass bank
- Working safely within an active school environment
- Limited construction access
- Managing site disruption around students and staff
- Improving usability while staying within a strict budget
- Balancing design quality with cost efficiency
The original design was costly and inefficient, so Siteworks needed to find a smarter way to deliver the same outcome with better value.
The Siteworks Solution
Siteworks redesigned the original plans to maximise usability, safety, and cost efficiency.
Rather than treating the grass bank as wasted space, the team reshaped it into a structured, multi-level outdoor area. This created usable zones for teaching, seating, movement, and informal gathering.
Key features included:
- Three levels of retaining walls to create safe seating and gathering areas
- New stairs and accessways to support safe movement between levels
- A flat upper platform designed as a dedicated outdoor learning space
- Integrated drainage improvements to support long-term site performance
- A practical layout that made better use of the existing land
By reworking the design, Siteworks delivered a result that was functional, durable, and significantly more affordable than the original proposal.
The result
The completed project has transformed a previously unused area into a highly valued part of Albany Primary School.
The new outdoor learning space now supports multiple classes, encourages student engagement, and reduces reliance on indoor teaching areas. It also improves movement around the site and provides a more practical, usable environment for everyday school activity.
Most importantly, the solution was delivered at a fraction of the original design cost, with the final approach reducing costs by 40% while still meeting the school’s functional requirements.
This project is a strong example of how smart civil construction, practical design, and experienced delivery can turn an overlooked area into a valuable long-term asset.
The project also needed to support modern teaching methods by creating a flexible space that could be used throughout the school day.
Project Highlights
- Transformed an unusable bank into a functional outdoor learning space
- Delivered a 40% cost saving compared with the original design
- Created additional learning space without constructing new buildings
- Improved site access, usability, and drainage
- Delivered safely within an active school environment
- Created a flexible space for classes, movement, and informal seating
Services Used
The project included a range of practical site works and civil construction services, including:
- Earthworks
- Retaining walls
- Accessways and stairs
- Drainage improvements
- School site upgrades
- Outdoor learning space construction
Why This Project Matters
For schools facing growing rolls, building new classrooms is not always the fastest or most affordable option.
This project shows how existing outdoor areas can be reworked to create practical, flexible, and engaging learning environments. By identifying the potential in an underused part of the site, Siteworks helped Albany Primary School create more usable space without the cost and complexity of a new building.
It is a clear example of Siteworks’ ability to provide practical solutions that balance budget, usability, safety, and long-term value.
Our Values
We Value Each Other
Each person brings their own strengths, and can be relied upon to support the team.
We Take Pride in our Work
From planning through to completion, we get stuck in every step of the way.
We Keep Communication Open
Through honesty and transparency, we can achieve successful, predictable project outcomes for our clients.
We Work Together for Safety
Every team member does their part to keep themselves and others safe on site.
Frequently asked questions
How did Siteworks help Albany Primary School create more usable space?
Siteworks transformed an underutilised grass bank into a safe, multi-level outdoor learning space with seating areas, accessways, stairs, and improved drainage.
Why was an outdoor learning space a good solution for the school?
An outdoor learning space provided additional usable teaching space without the cost and disruption of constructing a new building.
What made this project cost-effective?
Siteworks redesigned the original plans to reduce unnecessary cost while still delivering a safe, practical, and high-value result for the school.
Did the project improve drainage?
Yes. The project included drainage improvements to support long-term performance and make the area more suitable for regular school use.
Can Siteworks complete similar school projects?
Yes. Siteworks can deliver earthworks, retaining walls, drainage, access improvements, and wider civil construction services for schools and education sites.