Outside the Classroom: Spatial Considerations to Facilitate Community Relationships with Schools

Densification of urban environments has led to increased pressure on existing school infrastructure throughout Australia’s major cities and elsewhere. Schools have continued to evolve as part of this process and facilities are more frequently leveraged for both public use and enabled for a range of education-related activities that foster community building. Design and procurement of schools currently builds upon acceptable minimum standards that often lack generosity to establish social spaces and spatial facilities that can be ‘borrowed’ by external users and provide critical social benefits. Through a review of New South Wales’ planning policy this article aims to identify the benefits of providing school infrastructure facilities that compliment public assets. It also discusses the challenges faced with the delivery of these assets within an on-going trend of urbanisation. It is argued that on-going planning for school environments will need to consider a holistic, community-wide view through a considered approach to shared facilities.