By Danielle Kutchel
Construction is heating up on a new STEAM centre at Hampton Park Secondary College.
The sod was officially turned on the new centre on Tuesday 11 May, with Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas in attendance along with principal Wayne Haworth, teachers and student leaders from the school, and representatives of the architecture and building firms.
WOWOWA Architecture and McColl Smith Projects are set to deliver the new STEAM facility – a $3.9 million project – by late 2021, allowing students and teachers to work collaboratively and utilise state-of-the-art technologies such as a 3D printer and robotics area.
STEAM – science, technology, engineering, arts and maths – is a key part of the curriculum at Hampton Park Secondary College, according to leading teacher for STEAM Amy Mraz.
Students are able to engage in STEAM subjects from year 7, and in years 8-10 have 16 subjects they can choose from.
“It’s anything from robotics to jewellery making to subjects like ‘grow, eat cook’, where they grow their own produce and cook it…to subjects where they’re building their own computers,” Ms Mraz said.
Currently, students are learning these subjects in traditional classrooms – but the new STEAM centre is set to change that.
It’s been designed as a flexible learning space, with areas devoted to robotics, laser cutting and digital technology, to name a few.
Ms Mraz said the centre would house all new and traditional technologies at the school under one roof, as well as offering collaborative spaces where students can work together on their projects.
“This building will allow flexibility so students can have far more options,” she said.
“Kids will have flexibility to move around and take their projects and learning further. It’s very exciting.”
At the event Mr Maas spoke about his memories of ‘computer class’ in the 1980s, using a 64kb computer, and reflected on how much learning about technology has changed over the years.
He said he had been working with principal Wayne Haworth to find ways to continuously improve outcomes for students at the school.
Mr Haworth said the commencement of building works was “a very exciting time for our college”.
“In order to best prepare our students for a fast- changing world, we must provide new resources and learning opportunities for our students,” he said.
“The technology building before us was constructed in the 1980s.
“We are very grateful for the support and commitment of the Andrews’ government, which will see the transformation of this learning space from old tech to state of the art STEAM building.”
The project is Stage 2 of works at Hampton Park Secondary College, building on the $2.62 million Stage 1 works that will provide a new Senior Learning Centre at the school, and $8.12 million for Stage 3 works which include planning, upgrade and modernisation works for a wellness centre and refurbishment of the administration and entrance area.
“I am so excited to see action on the ground as Hampton Park Secondary College’s upgrade plans are taking shape and becoming a reality,” Mr Maas said.
“This new facility will assist staff and teachers to achieve the best education possible for their students, particularly in the STEAM fields.”
