New campus for Torah Academy Girls High School

The academy will relocate from the corner of Hilson Road and Louis Botha Avenue, where it has been for the past 21 years, to a new location in Raedene. The new campus will include multi-purpose educational spaces, outdoor sports facilities, cultural and Jewish enrichment amenities and leisure and breakout areas.

The four-stand site posed quite a challenge due to the high level of functionality that had to be accommodated in terms of the design, comments Paragon Group architect Kim Newell. The problem was solved by turning all of the buildings 45˚ to the site boundaries. This resulted in triangular courtyards along the perimeter, affording every classroom an outdoor breakout space.

Recessed, protruding windows

The windows for each classroom were positioned to allow optimal light into each classroom, while at the same time not allowing too much heat into the space. A solution was to have a series of recessed and protruding windows scattered along the façade. Recessing the windows allowed them to be shaded to help keep the interiors cool, while the protruding windows in certain areas allowed for window seats to be created inside the classrooms. Different-coloured glazing creates occasional pops of colour in the design. The roofs have been sloped to accommodate solar panels in the future.

The large, light and airy classrooms aim to provide a stimulating environment for innovative teaching. Each classroom will have high-speed internet connectivity, a projector and other modern teaching aids. They have been designed to facilitate both formal front-facing, group-led and paired learning.

Central space built around jacaranda tree

The school centres around a central canteen on the ground floor with a library above on the first floor. This central space will be built around a large existing jacaranda tree, with a large balcony that the library opens onto. Below, the canteen opens out onto the amphitheatre, designed to facilitate a variety of outdoor programmes.

Several classrooms are subject-specific, differentiated by design touches and layout. There are also six additional smaller-sized classrooms for the Cheder stream, providing a more intimate learning environment for those seeking an advanced Kodesh curriculum.

A high-tech laboratory for biology, chemistry and physics gives learners hands-on practical experience. In addition, there will also be a performing arts centre, a consumer studies laboratory and a technology laboratory with a fully-equipped computer suite.

A multimedia resource centre provides a spacious, high-tech area for students to research and explore. The hub of the campus comprises a principal’s office, HOD office and an educators’ resource centre and relaxation area.

In terms of current progress, Newell reveals that the rezoning application is expected to be given the greenlight shortly. The site development plan (SDP) is anticipated to be submitted in mid-March, with the contractor on-site by May. All tender documentation has been prepared in advance, ready for a quick start.