Joe Ferreira Architects
Ivory Park, Tembisa.
The site was identified by Gauteng Department of Education to erect both a Primary and Secondary School to serve the new extension of Ivory Park. The idea was that some facilities could be shared by both schools and that the site should also serve other community needs. ORACLE partnered with the GDE to erect the Secondary School.
For road safety reasons the main entrance to both schools was positioned off a cull de sac road (Pilchard Street) with a turning circle at the entrance gates. This service road leads of an existing intersection on Mudhopper Street. A buss stop with drop off layby for the school is also positioned in Mudhopper Street. A taxi drop off zone was positioned in Pilchard street near the main entrance to the school. A secondary entrance to the site is off an existing intersection in Archfisher Road – the main road leading into this new extension. On weekends this can also serve vehicles entering onto the site when the community make use of the school’s sports facilities. A four way stop or traffic light would later be introduced at this intersection.
Both the Primary and Secondary School was positioned onto the site while leaving a portion of the site to be developed as a Crèche to serve the community. The Crèche would also have a safe entrance off the turning circle on Pilchard Street.
Both the School complexes, with their staff parking, is separated from each other and the sports facilities with security gates and fences. This enables the community to use the sports facilities after hours without gaining access to the schools buildings.
A School Hall, that can be used by both schools was incorporated. This hall not only serves both schools for assemblies and functions, but serve an important role during examination times. The senior student can take their exams in the Hall without disruption of the programme of the other students. The Hall also has toilets and change rooms to serve the sports facilities.
The Hall will also be used by the Community to assemble for meetings and functions. The facility would also be leased out for private functions to generate a income to be used by the Schools and Crèche. The Hall was erected by the ORACLE / GDE partnership as part of the Secondary School.
Provision was also made on the site for a Swimming Pool with a Pavilion and change rooms. This would not only serve as a sports facility for the schools and community but also as a swimming school to teach children of all ages, as well as adults, to swim.
