One School Global Campus

A brand-new play space for the students at One School Global Campus in Gore.

Client:

One School Global Campus

Location:

Gore

Circa budget:

$130,000

One School Global Campus is a brand-new learning environment for children in the academic years of 3 to 13. This new school in Gore serves students from Dunedin all the way through to Invercargill by providing a safe space to learn, grow, and play.

In 2022, the school teamed up with Creo to design and build a play space for the new school. Together they created a space that was safe, full of activity, could challenge students of all ages, and was diverse and inclusive for their school community. The new play area features swings, play structures, balance play, mounds, and comfortable safety surfacing to cushion all the bumps and falls that are sure to take place in the playground.

Principal Sarah Gillbert explains that the space is full of activities and energy that encouraged the students to get creative and push themselves. “Our students like to challenge themselves… It’s great [the playground] because it offers that little bit of risk that children love, but it’s perfectly safe for them to use.”

A standout feature in the play area is the safety surfacing installed in the space. The rubber surface provides the students with the opportunity to take risks, push themselves, and get creative with their play while knowing they are protected from those trips and falls. “The surfacing is nice and spongy. It’s perfectly safe for our students to play.”

“It’s great because it offers that little bit of risk that children love, but it’s perfectly safe for them to use.”

The play space has a range of height play options which Sarah explains that the kids at her school love. The variety of climbing opportunities throughout the playground keeps students entertained and encourages physical activity and competition. A range of balance play options can also be found in the playground, with mounds, and steppers scattered around the space, creating fun games, and challenges, pushing kids to get creative with their playtime.

“Our students absolutely love it. Every day there is laughter and lots of play going on in our playground.”

The new playground has been an absolute hit with students, and Sarah explains that the new space has been a great addition to the school. The students love it, and there is always laughter and play going on in the playground.

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Northland School

For the past year, Creo has been working with the team at Northland School to create new and exciting playground spaces for the students and school community.

Client:

Northland School

Location:

Northland, Wellington

Circa Budget:

$250,000

In 2022, the first of the 2-stage project was completed, transforming an empty outdoor space into a fresh and engaging playground.

Stage 1 of the playspace project at Northland School features a design and installation of a brand-new playground, located beside a new building structure at the school. The area designated for the play space is part of an existing larger asphalt court that the school wanted to turn into a natural-looking playground that was inviting and exciting for their students to use.

Using a custom Robinia wood equipment structure and MulchSet rubber playground surfacing, the Creo team were able to create a natural-looking playground full of texture and warmth. The wooden structure is a versatile piece that encourages unprescribed play and children of all ages to get creative with their games and challenges. The rubber mulch product ensures that falls or bumps are well cushioned and helps create a natural-looking safety surface that works well into the landscaping and future play areas to come in Stage 2.

The Robinia wood equipment structure adds a unique element to the playground, providing a range of play types, including sliding, balancing, climbing, and a hanging-out area. The informal play type on the Robinia equipment adds to the overall natural and free-play feel of the playground.

Creo worked closely with students and staff at the school to create a playground that encourages creativity, exploration, and physical activity.

As stage two of the project is completed, the playground will offer even more activities and play opportunities. The concept plan for the second stage features proper basketball courts, a flying fox, landscaping and plantings, more play areas, and conversations/seating spaces for students and the wider school community to enjoy. These exciting elements will help provide the school with an inviting and engaging outdoor space that can be used for years to come.

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Anderson Bay School

Playground surface with different material, some pillars in gray.

Creating a challenging and natural play environment at Anderson Bay School.

Client:

Anderson Bay School

Location:

Dunedin

Circa Budget:

$220,000

Andersons Bay School is a primary school located in Dunedin. In 2022, the school worked with the design and build team at Creo to create a brand-new play space for its students.

In the early stages of the project, the school expressed that they wanted a fun new play environment with a natural look that could be both exciting and challenging for students.

Principal Pauline Simpson explained: “The importance of the natural environment is huge for us. We wanted to create something that gave a natural feel while giving children challenge and fun activities to use in their break times and also as part of their learning.”

After designing and concept that incorporated natural wooden materials, landscaping, unique equipment pieces, and safety surfacing, the install team got on site and because to bring the space to life.

The installation phase of the project at Andersons Bay School didn’t come without it’s set of challenges. The Creo team worked during one of the wettest winters on record, dealing with continuous rain for a number of weeks. Despite the difficult conditions, the Creo team continued to work through the rain and bring the playground together.

The result is an open, and natural play space that blends into the landscape surrounding the school.

One of the most popular items in the new playground is the flying fox. According to Principal Simpson, the children love it. “It is so well used by the children. It develops their upper body strength. It develops their do-operation. It’s surprising just how creative they can be with it.” Other features in the playground include a range of balance beams, swings, a climbing rope tower, and a slide.

The new playground has had a significant impact on the school community. Students now have access to a range of fun and challenging activities during their break times, and the playground also serves as a learning tool during class time. The playground has become an asset to the school visually, blending in perfectly with the natural landscape, and has also provided children with even more opportunities for creative play.

“At the end of it, we have a happy community and happy children who love this area down here. Visually it’s an asset, and it’s also an asset in terms of giving our children even more creative play options.”

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Western Heights School

Client:

Western Heights School

Location:

Henderson, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$260,000

Western Heights School is an exciting multicultural school made up of 725 students from over 50 different nationalities. The primary school is located in West Auckland for children from years 1 through 6.

Principal Ash Maindonald has been at the school for a number of years and in 2022 he reached out to Creo in the hopes of transforming the central area of their school into a vibrant space for students.

Ash describes the previous space as an “absolute eyesore”. The school’s central courtyard featured a big bark area with bushes and hedging, but the plants all got root rot leaving the space bare and dull.

“It was really depressing to bring new families into an amazing school and have them look at a centrepiece in the centre of our school that was just horrible.”

Transforming the space into something that was practical, colourful, and fit for purpose was very important to the school.

Ash spoke with other principals in the area who had previously worked with Creo, and asked them about their experience, the result, and how their spaces have worked out for the children at their schools, and after exploring Creo’s body of work on the website, Ash contacted the team to begin the project at Western Heights School.

“They came out [to the school], and spent quite a bit of time, at morning teas and lunchtime, just observing our children. Seeing how they played, seeing how they interacted and getting a feel for the culture of the school. Based on that, they came back with a proposal. That really impressed me.”

Creo worked closely with Ash and his team to make sure the space was built for a purpose and could provide value to the school and its students. The design team came up with a colourful and dynamic space that created different play opportunities and new elements that were exciting and challenging for the students.

A big feature of the previous bark space was two large trees that the school cherished and wanted to keep in the new play area. So Creo incorporated the trees into the space, adding a permeable rubber surface at their base, allowing the trees to continue to thrive, while also providing a soft cushion landing for students who climb the trees.

The new play space includes a combination of textures, play elements, and unique equipment pieces that keep kids engaged and draw people into the play space.

“When the project was finished, it was flooded with children. And it’s flooded with children every day. Little ones, big ones, they just love it. They can hang out, they can relax, they can challenge themselves, they can find peace, they can find friendship. It’s a really cool, fun place for them.”

The space is full of unique touches like the personalised surfacing and the inclusion of trees in the space. It’s a reflection of the fun, creative, energy of the school and its students.

“From day one, when Ben turned up and did his research, through to when Keith came in and talked about the project and how it would go. Every single person was brilliant. I can’t thank them enough. This company [Creo] is phenomenal.”

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Orewa College

Client:

Orewa College

Location:

Orewa, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$200,000

Project Overview: Creo was appointed with a mission to redefine the outdoor spaces at Orewa College. The task was to transform two busy areas, converting what was once a bleak, concrete-dominated space into a vibrant, welcoming, and safe environment for the students.

Beginning of the Journey: The transformation journey commenced with a tour of the school grounds with Jennifer, the project manager from Fat Parrot. It was clear from the outset that the project demanded more than mere aesthetics – it called for a holistic design-build approach. Thus, Creo embraced the challenge to create an area that was not just visually appealing but also functional, safe, and inclusive.

Creospace Transformation: The two sections of the school were marred by extensive concrete, which gave it an unwelcoming and cold appearance. It was disjointed due to uneven surfaces and obstructed by tree roots and old tree stumps.

However, instead of seeing these as roadblocks, Creo viewed them as opportunities for improvement. A concerted effort was made to remove the physical barriers, like the tree stump and uneven ground, to create smooth, level access throughout the space.

Creating a Warm and Welcoming Environment: The design ethos for this project revolved around transforming the once dreary space into a bright, inviting, and safe environment. The old concrete was replaced with a lighter and warmer rubber surfacing, completely altering the area’s overall aesthetic.

Trees within the area were not seen as hindrances but rather used as natural elements to enhance the space. Seating was placed around the remaining trees, providing unique and comfortable “hang-out” zones for students.

The Outcome: The transformation of two key areas at Orewa College has been a triumph. The once cold, disjointed space has been completely revitalized into a welcoming and warm environment, full of light and life. With plenty of seating and space to move around, it’s become a popular spot for students to relax, eat, study, and socialize.

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Marist School

Client:

Marist School

Location:

Mt Albert, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$170,000

Creo collaborated with the school to create a concept that included 3 different areas. The main focus was the senior and middle school areas, where they wanted more open spaces for large games, hang-out spots, and outdoor classroom learning.

The Creo team removed the artificial turf and used ground painting to bring colour and flow into the concrete space,creating lines and games to signify where certain spaces were. The subtle directional design moves people through the space without interrupting any play or sports games taking place.

On the edge of the concrete space is a deck which was included to act as both a hang-out spot and a space for outdoor classes. It offers a great vantage point to interact with the games and sports taking place while leaving plenty of space for all activities.

The space around the school hall was also part of the concept. Because there are frequent events happening in and around the school hall, vehicles are always moving through the space. The school wanted a designated area for the markets and events that still looked cohesive with the play area but also created some separation so that vehicles can pass safely and not interrupt the activity taking place.

The final area is an unprescribed playspace. Complete with a mound, slides, and tunnel, the space is perfect for the younger students at the school. Rubber safety surfacing was used to create a soft landing and tie the play space with the colours of the surrounding courts. The surface design also features the school logo, personalising the space and making it uniquely Kaurilands School.

The new playspace is vibrant, fun, and exciting. With endless play opportunities and elements to bring the school community together.

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Kereru Park Campus

Client:

Kereru Park Campus

Location:

Rosehill, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$177,000

Creo collaborated with the school to create a concept that included 3 different areas. The main focus was the senior and middle school areas, where they wanted more open spaces for large games, hang-out spots, and outdoor classroom learning.

The Creo team removed the artificial turf and used ground painting to bring colour and flow into the concrete space,creating lines and games to signify where certain spaces were. The subtle directional design moves people through the space without interrupting any play or sports games taking place.

On the edge of the concrete space is a deck which was included to act as both a hang-out spot and a space for outdoor classes. It offers a great vantage point to interact with the games and sports taking place while leaving plenty of space for all activities.

The space around the school hall was also part of the concept. Because there are frequent events happening in and around the school hall, vehicles are always moving through the space. The school wanted a designated area for the markets and events that still looked cohesive with the play area but also created some separation so that vehicles can pass safely and not interrupt the activity taking place.

The final area is an unprescribed playspace. Complete with a mound, slides, and tunnel, the space is perfect for the younger students at the school. Rubber safety surfacing was used to create a soft landing and tie the play space with the colours of the surrounding courts. The surface design also features the school logo, personalising the space and making it uniquely Kaurilands School.

The new playspace is vibrant, fun, and exciting. With endless play opportunities and elements to bring the school community together.

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Papatoetoe West Primary School

Safe for children to play on wet pour rubber surfacing.

Cultural elements help children learn through play.

Papatoetoe West Primary School has undergone an exciting transformation that has the school’s students jumping for joy!

Client:

Papatoetoe West Primary School

Location:

Auckland

Circa Budget:

$130,000

With 700 students, the school is now home to a brand–new play space that really represents the heart and creativity of this school community.

With a vision to create a thrilling and exciting new play space at Papatoetoe West School, ex-principal Diana Tregoweth posed a challenge to the student body. To picture their dream play space and brainstorm the many ways they could improve the grounds, play areas, and learning environments at the school to make them more interesting and engaging.

The student body got behind this project and rose to the occasion, excited to be a part of the transformation and came up with some truly unique ideas reflective of their school community and their needs. Students worked hard to create models, drawings, and presentations of their dream spaces and turned it all in to the senior staff team to make it a reality.

Diana and her team knew that they wanted to create a different kind of play space for their school, and after visiting Sylvia Park School and seeing their Creo-built entrance space, they knew that this was the company they wanted to collaborate with for their project.

“As soon as we came back, we contacted Creo, and they came out [to visit]. We told them what we liked, and the children worked right through the term and made models, drew pictures, and gave me ideas of what they would most like in a playground.”

Creo worked with the school to create a concept design that incorporated the many special elements the students had come up with for their space. One of the most exciting requests was the idea of having a fale in the school to represent the strong Pacific Island community at Papatoetoe West, along with climbing walls, balance play, tunnels, and plenty of space to run around.

With all these elements in mind, Creo was able to put together a unique design that reflected the local community and the school’s Pacific Island influence with a fale as the centrepiece, surrounded by safety surfacing that features imagery of native flowers, water elements, and games for learning and exploring. A small waka, mounds, steppers, and unprescribed play equipment were also introduced to keep students engaged and challenged in the space.

The new play area is a combination of all efforts and a shining example of what can be achieved when schools allow students to bring their ideas to the table and give them an opportunity to take ownership of their learning environment. The new space is full of colour, culture, and fun that tells a story of the school’s Pacific community and the importance of being curious and creative.

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Te Papapa School

With a large community of Pacific Island and Maori students, Te Papapa School is a diverse and multicultural learning environment located in the suburb of Onehunga, Auckland.

Client:

Te Papapa School

Location:

Onehunga, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$180,000

In 2022 the team at Te Papapa decided to update the entryway into their school and create a more welcoming, bright, and culturally reflective space that mirrors the diverse student body. The school approached Creo to make this happen, and the result is a vibrant and inspiring new entry area.

Creo worked with the school to design a space inspired by the stories and values of the Pacific Islands. The patterns, imagery, and lush greenery in the space were all selected to create an outdoor environment that celebrates the diversity of the pacific islands and makes students and visitors feel welcome as they enter the school.

As you move through the space you first pass under a waharoa and are led through a small garden area that is filled with colour and plantings, and into the fale. The fale provides a welcoming seating area for students, families, and visitors to the school. It is a great multifunctional space that can be used as an outdoor classroom, a break-out space, a stage area, and a meeting place.

There are various design elements that brighten up the fale and the surrounding space, with ground markings and surface imagery of sea turtles, flowers native to the pacific islands, and patterns found in traditional art. The fale space is complete with a kuru pattern symbolising the ocean and its connection to the land.

Te Papapa School’s new entryway space is a beautiful and inspiring addition to the school. It is a reflection of the diverse student body and the culture of the Pacific Island students and families in their community. This meaningful space is sure to be enjoyed for years to come.

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Glenavon School

A new, creative space for the junior students at Glenavon School.

Client:

Glenavon School

Location:

Auckland

Circa Budget:

$175,000

Glenavon School is an active and vibrant, multicultural school made up of students from Year 1 through to 8, located in Auckland.

With a creative and unique community, Glenavon School centres around nurturing meaningful and engaging relationships and experiences for its students. Part of this focus has been put into creating fun and diverse learning spaces including developing outdoor areas to fit these needs.

In 2022, Glenavon School principal, Rachel McDonell and her team began working with Creo to help build a brand-new outdoor learning space for their junior students. The new entrant teachers were eager to have a unique space outside where they could take the children and have them engage with the elements they have been learning about.

“Our new entrant teachers really wanted to develop this space. They were doing a lot of play-based learning within the classrooms, and they wanted to bring it outside.”

A design outline of the space was created by one of the teachers, and the school began exploring playground companies they could team up with to build their space. After getting in touch with Creo, they shared their ideas, and the design team began putting together a full concept plan using the initial design, refining the ideas and exploring how they can be adapted in the play area.

The result was an open play environment with a few fixed, equipment pieces such as a tunnel and a wooden waka. Rachel explains:

“We wanted to create this space without a lot of play equipment on it. The idea of this play space is that the teachers actually bring out play equipment for the kids to construct, build, and play with.”

The open space allows teachers the ability to create a custom learning environment that’s easy to adapt and keeps students engaged throughout the term.

The positive response they’re received from students and parents about their new space has been encouraging and has led Rachel and her team at Glenavon School to continue developing their outdoor areas into vibrant play and learning environments. According to Rachel, the next big project is centred around creating a space for their intermediate -aged students, and after the success of their collaboration with Creo, she is hopeful to team up with them again soon to begin developing future ideas.

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One School Global Campus

Client:

One School Global Campus

Location:

Gore

Circa budget:

$130,000

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Northland School

Client:

Northland School

Location:

Northland, Wellington

Circa Budget:

$250,000

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Anderson Bay School

Client:

Anderson Bay School

Location:

Dunedin

Circa Budget:

$220,000

“At the end of it, we have a happy community and happy children who love this area down here. Visually it’s an asset, and it’s also an asset in terms of giving our children even more creative play options.”

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We're here to help

Western Heights School

Client:

Western Heights School

Location:

Henderson, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$260,000

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Orewa College

Client:

Orewa College

Location:

Orewa, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$200,000

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Marist School

Client:

Marist School

Location:

Mt Albert, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$170,000

The new playspace is vibrant, fun, and exciting. With endless play opportunities and elements to bring the school community together.

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Kereru Park Campus

Client:

Kereru Park Campus

Location:

Rosehill, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$177,000

The new playspace is vibrant, fun, and exciting. With endless play opportunities and elements to bring the school community together.

Want to see more projects like this one?

Download our latest portfolio. Just fill the form and see how we design and build fun, inclusive and beautiful places for all.

We're here to help

Papatoetoe West Primary School

Client:

Papatoetoe West Primary School

Location:

Auckland

Circa Budget:

$130,000