Mancel College
GLA Building 1

This landmark project, initiated by a comprehensive campus redevelopment, was envisioned by Giarola Architects in collaboration with Language Disorder Australia, and it represents a pioneering stride in educational architecture for students with Language Disorder.

The entire masterplan and Building 1 were informed by extensive and ongoing research into impacts of Language Disorder, Autism and how students navigate and interface with the built environment and the College’s innovative pedagogical approaches.

The design supports the specialised approach of this unique educational setting, where multi-disciplinary teams – consisting of teachers, allied health professionals and a school assistant in every classroom – plan and deliver lessons collaboratively, to support individual student development.

Early intervention in the acquisition of language is critical in building key competencies to support academic, social and emotional learning, so Mancel College classes are organised into age-appropriate bands and reflect a high adult-to-student ratio, with an average of 12 students in each class.

As a result, the design called for larger-than-usual, flexible and adaptable classrooms, which feel even more expansive thanks to direct connections with courtyards and the internal walkway and outdoor learning areas. Each classroom also has an attached quiet room and balcony, providing dedicated spaces for sensory regulation and/or the delivery of small group activities.

These multifaceted classrooms open up to vibrant outdoor learning spaces, fostering an interactive and adaptive learning experience that connects with the bushland setting.  The building’s design respects its picturesque creek-side location, integrating sustainable practices and nurturing students’ connections with nature. 

Mancel College Building 1 exemplifies a fusion of environmental mindfulness, architectural ingenuity, and a deep commitment to catering to the unique educational needs of its students.