RON UNGER ARCHITECTS

The Early Learning Centre at Bialik College was the first centre in Melbourne to incorporate the philosophies of the world-renowned Reggio Emilia Schools in its design.

The building, designed by Ron Unger Architects in collaboration with Mary Featherston, accommodates three hundred children on two levels. Three and four year old kindergartens are located on the ground floor with access to northerly oriented kinder yards. The upper floor accommodates Prep and Grade One children with a similar northerly aspect.

An indoor conservatory at the east end of the building contains a tropical rainforest environment with tadpoles and tree frogs, which is used as an educational resource for the whole school.

School principal at the time, Genia Janover, described working with Ron on the Early Learning Centre as “a joy and a pleasure”. “I have wonderful memories of working with Ron [on the Early Learning Centre]… to this day I refer to the yellow cube hanging off the ELC as “Ron’s folly”.