The Lakes College

The Lakes College is a school of ambition with a grand vision, so it is no wonder Everything Outside was tasked with a complete transformation of the school’s play spaces. The College required three new playgrounds to meet the needs of its growing population of preps, junior primary and senior primary students whom all have differing needs for mental stimulation and physical development.

The Challenge

The challenge was to design and build three distinct play areas which would meet the needs of the specific age brackets. The prep playground’s footprint of approximately 700 square metres was shaped in a long rectangle which required extra consideration at the design stage to ensure a safe playground flow for 90 students at any one time.
The prep playground was also situated at the entrance to the school, which meant the design should be spectacular for parents dropping their children off every day

The junior playground is situated in the middle of the school with tight access underneath a covered walkway. This posed challenges in getting materials and machinery in situ, not to mention an established tree for the much needed playground shade.

Mother nature once again provided a significant challenge to timelines during the construction phase. Record rainfall and a cyclone frustrated all involved in the project.

The Solution

The Lakes College prep playground is one of our best ever.

A giant timber activity ship forms part of the playground border which delivers a wow entrance for the primary school students and parents. The ship is a split level multi-purpose space where students can enjoy activity panels and musical instruments at height, or teachers can orchestrate performances on the lower level. At one end of the playground, hideaway boxes create climbing challenges inside a winding bike track loop. There is a large pod for outdoor learning and a small swing for quiet play. At the other end of the playground, there is a shopfront, builders yard, mud kitchen and tinker table for imagination play alongside a dry river bed with a functioning water pump. There is significant open space in front of the activity boat to assist with the playground flow and allow for safe running.

The junior playground is a step up when it comes to physical challenges for students. There is a parkour course with a footswing, a cargo climb, triple climb and monkey bars. Giant activity towers are connected by a rope tunnel with slides, a fireman’s pole and climbing wall providing entry and exit points.

There is a welcome bridge which leads to a long dry river bed. The bed begins with a water pump and ends with a pod for student interaction. At the centre of the playground are painted toadstools for seating underneath an established tree which will provide shade for years to come.

The senior playground is a full parkour course with greater challenges than the junior space. The warped wall provides a daily challenge to achieve bragging rights!

Incredible Outcome

The Lakes College has three stunning play spaces for all primary school aged students to develop and enjoy. The prep playground is a sensational entrance to a school which impresses from the moment any prospective parent arrives. It is certain to be an enrolment drawcard.

The spacious junior playground, surrounded by classrooms, is a beautiful and fun feature. The senior playground provides the older students with an extra level of physical challenge.