Construction underway for East Perth Primary School

Work is moving ahead with the main design and construct contract of Perth’s first CBD school in 100 years awarded to CPB Contractors. As the early works contractor, CPB collaborated with ARM and EIW to finalise the meticulously planned design, the materials and building methods.

Director Andrew Lilleyman is leading the design team, which draws on ARM’s experience in designing primary schools across Australia.

“We’re here to give students the very best start in a public school with architecture that’s innovative, practical and affordable.

“It takes design intelligence and experience across different settings, pedagogies and communities. Understanding how each school will work day to day is the bedrock of our approach,” said Lilleyman.

The $165 million project is being delivered by the Western Australia government in response to demand for public education from a growing community in central Perth.

Western Australia’s education minister Sabine Winton said: “This will be a fantastic new school for local families, providing a state-of-the-art learning environment for students to learn and make lifelong friends.”

Providing capacity for 600 students from kindergarten to Year 6, construction of the new four-storey primary school includes classrooms and specialist learning spaces, alongside a library, art room, science facilities, canteen, administration and student amenities. A school hall, music rooms and out-of-hours school care facilities will support a broader range of learning and community uses.

Its vertical approach makes efficient use of the tight urban site, with outdoor play and landscaped spaces within the heart of the school.

East Perth adds to ARM’s growing portfolio of government education projects, including primary schools delivered for the Victorian School Building Authority. Just completed is the $11.07 million upgrade at Bayswater South Primary School, which ARM masterplanned, designed and delivered while the school remained operational.

East Perth Primary School is expected to open to students in Term 1, 2029, with the design allowing for a future expansion to accommodate a further 200 students.