WORK INSTRUCTIONHERITAGE HEART (A BLOCK) FEEDBACK Thank you for the opportunity to review the Heritage Heart Project façade and provide feedback. The new renders retain the old character and key elements of its current appearance, which will make it easily identifiable as the A Block Old Girls have always known. While It is not as aesthetically pleasing or contemporary as the previous iteration, it will please Old Girls who felt connected to the previous façade and its heritage significance. The above comments are made as an Old Girl, but not made on behalf of the OGA. I have encouraged each member to individually provide their thoughts, given that they varied so widely across the Committee. Will there be ramp access to Level 5 of A Block for Students/Staff/Visitors who have difficulties with stairs? I would make the following comments on the classroom designs proposed: • Floor coverings? Carpet is preferred as it is sound deadening, in fact there seems to be mainly reflective surfaces throughout so hopefully the acoustics of an active classroom are understood and accounted for. (is the partition wall sound insulated?) • Window Coverings, In case of a lockdown are windows able to be covered or is it just an open gallery which would be very unsafe? Maybe these spaces could also have whiteboards which could be pulled across, giving even more room so that a whole class could use whiteboards as well. • Classroom seating, will it still be easily configured for traditional rows for those occasional classes/students which have major behavioural issues. • Display Screens. Will they be such that they can be written on (electronic pen) so that they can be saved, directly into OneNote for example. I have just reviewed the updated drawings for A Block and I am delighted with the outcome. The building looks largely the same as it does now with many historical references and the added benefit of a light and bright contemporary work/educational environment. The timber veranda floors bring the warmth back. Thank you very much for not only listening but your responsiveness to both my and my OGA Committee peers’ concerns. As a suggestion, perhaps the brick seating sections facing the quadrangle lawn could be an ideal place for the naming bricks for our oldest Old Girls, who are the closest to the age of this building. Imagine how wonderful for them to see the bricks for the 1920s, 1930, 1940a and potentially 1950s Old Girls in this historical precinct? I think the updated drawings are a very good design and functional outcome, as they respect and maintain the historical exterior (design and original material) and deliver to a contemporary need of appropriately sized classrooms and a modern learning environment. These drawings ensure A Block is easily recognisable to all eras of Somerville House Old Girls and it now forms a meaningful alignment with the Heritage Heart concept. I really like the historical references within the interior (banding, cornices, skirting, post and lintel etc) and colour banding on the external and new brick seating areas. The seating facing towards the quadrangle lawn and city is an ideal place for reflection and to view the Brisbane skyline. Suggestions (brick seating area) 1. Add a second banding to the brick seating areas to more closely reflect Cumbooquepa OR 2. Use this area to display the buy a brick campaign. Consider displaying the paid bricks for the oldest Old Girls here (e.g. 1899 – 1940) OR display all the names of every student in the first 5 – 10 years of the School. I like that the heritage of A Block will be maintained. My only issue is the seating in classrooms. It is vital that there are enough ergonomic seats for each student in the room. The cubes provide no back support for students. WORK INSTRUCTION I was a student at Somerville House from 1957 to 1963. On my last visit to the school (our 50th reunion in 2013), I was disappointed that this building, the clock tower and Principal’s office were no longer a feature of the school. I’m very pleased that this situation is to be remedied. I had a quick look at the ‘masterplan’ and have only one request. As a student I always felt the power of history when I walked up the main staircase and saw the worn treads; it reminded me that this building had a history, especially during World War II. I know the treads would probably need to be replaced (if they haven’t been already), but I think it would be wonderful to incorporate one or more into the new design as part of a historical display. I don’t know if this is possible, but I’d love to see it. Since I have lost most of my eyesight this is very difficult but U feel the plan is not out of my much loved A Block. Glad to see main stairs are being restored tho it is a pity the old treads worn down by thousands of schoolgirl feet but I did teach Ancient History and Archaeology!!! Thank you for inviting feedback from old girls regarding the Heritage Heart project. Sadly, as I now live in Perth, my own daughter will not get to experience the history and comradery of being a Somerville Girl, but it is lovely that you are seeking response from those who’ve spent time in this building. One of my enduring memories of walking along these corridors is coming out of sometimes slightly over air-conditioned classrooms, and feeling the sun on my face and a chance to look out over the school. I am so pleased that the new design keeps the casement windows and sunny upper storey verandas. Providing much needed shelter over the pavement at the lower level is an excellent idea. No site plan was included with the package of information, but provided the veranda does not encroach into the grassed area, then it should be supported. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this design. When looking at the clock from the quadrangle, there should be steps on the left side of the building, leading out onto the grassed area. This would be for emergencies. Hundreds of girls can not use the main entrance (only) if there was fire. As a former teacher, I am very aware how many children/students can suddenly block a walkway/thorough fare. i.e. There should be another access onto the grassed area, other than the stairs under the clock. I think there are good elements – I like the wooden floored verandah / the parquetry / the clock / the upper level ext weatherboard on exterior / the brick paving on the ground. It is a shock however to see a lot of brick for the exterior. I had always thought of this building as a weatherboard building, + having so much brick on the exterior right up to first floor height makes it lose the sense of the original that we have in our memories. It would be nice to be able to still recognize the original in the refurbishment. Otherwise the emotional connection is very much lost , which is an important issue for many old girls , particularly for one of the pivotal heritage buildings of the school. This was an important building in my era as it housed the offices of the principal , vice principal , head of maths and the staff room . So a sense of seriousness, authority and office bearing. I would really like to see the exterior all weather board for the ground level too or the brick to only go to below window level at most , like the side building attached to Cumbooquepa where the brick extends only a short height then weather board on top of that I like the plans for the central grand staircase – I have clear memories of the worn wooden treads and the feel and sound they made as you stepped on them . Trying to recapture / preserve that feeling of history and generations is very important. Yes it should be a grand grand entrance and glad you are doing wooden floors not that terrible carpet . Hopefully the loo under the stairs will be upgraded too! The internal class rooms while beautifully light filled are very stark and could exist in any very modern nameless building – there is no sense of history or appeal there which is very sad and homogenous. This is not a new build and should not feel like the classrooms in some of the new blocks. Otherwise you could have just knocked it all down and put up something completely new, which is not the purpose. Please don’t just leave some historical elements on the outside but gut it on the inside. I think more could be done to soften these internal areas and have more heritage elements to fit in with the history and exterior heritage elements – like more Page | 2 WORK INSTRUCTION wall panelling like vijay panelling or referencing the external weatherboard in some way, or adding some thicker mouldings / trim around the windows – adding something like that to break the monotonous conformity of the walls/ rooms – to add elements of interest and warmth that make it more welcoming and appealing and connect it with a sense of its legacy and history. The classroom wall colour banks are horrible colours / the carpets are horrible ; ugly and stark – like the carpet on the floors of child care centres . You need wooden flooring or nicer carpet. If you are going to use modern / stark mobile furniture elements like that, you need to add other elements of interest to walls and flooring to soften the look and make it more welcoming , as well as break up the starkness and monotony.