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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Clyde River Park Playground

Celebrating history through play.

Client:

Central Otago District Council

Location:

Clyde, Otago

Circa Budget:

$230,000

The new playground at Clyde pays homage to the historical bridge landmark of the community. In 2021 the Central Otago District Council contacted Creo about working on a new play space for its riverside playground.

The historical Clyde Bridge and the Clutha River were used as inspiration for the new space, and Creo’s design team worked to create a custom playground that is truly iconic to the area.

Creo constructed a small replica of the Clyde Bridge to be used as a play equipment piece, with bars for climbing on and a river design underneath that brings a sense of the surrounding environment. By using wet-pour rubber surfacing, the Creo design and build team were able to create a river/water-like design that flows throughout the space and brings a fun and colourful element.

The space also features local materials, like stones and timber pieces that have been reclaimed and brought into the space for a personalised touch. The Creo team were intentional with using materials that complement the Central Otago landscape with elements that add to the Southern, High Country, aesthetic.

A swing set, balance beams, and carousel equipment pieces are focal points in the playground, creating a range of activity opportunities for visitors while playing on the river movement theme, while the concrete track surrounding the new space is perfect for children to ride bikes and navigate around the playground.

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Kaurilands School

Kaurilands School is located in the Titirangi suburb of Auckland. The large primary school has a cohort of around 800 students from Years 1-6, creating a vibrant and rich school community.

Client:

Kaurilands School

Location:

Titirangi, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$300,000

In late 2020, Kaurilands School began working with Creo to develop some significant outdoor spaces in their school and create some fresh play spaces for both their senior and junior students.

The previous courtyard space was covered in artificial turf, which wasn’t really working for the school. The sand was becoming messy and with the proximity of the turf to the classrooms, it was becoming a maintenance issue.

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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Rewa Rewa School

Rewa Rewa School is a primary school located in Newlands, Wellington. The school welcomes students from new entrants through to year 6, offering an inclusive and diverse learning environment.

Client:

Rewa Rewa School

Location:

Newlands, Wellington

Circa Budget:

$130,000

In 2021, the school approached Creo to help create an engaging space for outdoor learning and add character to underutilized areas in the school. The team at Rewa Rewa were looking for a way to encourage students to interact with the outdoor space and spark their imagination through play.

Creo worked with the school to create a concept for both an open outdoor learning environment and a small play space down the side of the classroom block, which was an unused area due to its size. The narrow space along the fence line was too small for any traditional play equipment, so Creo began looking for ways to add interest by introducing unique play elements to draw students to the area without overwhelming the space.

A concept was created bringing a natural and cosy touch to the small space which then flows into a more open learning environment as you move through the space. The natural earth tones make the space feel warm and inviting with seating and ground games making it the ideal hang-out spot for students to spend time in.

The play space then flows into an open turfed and shaded environment that is perfect for outdoor classroom learning, with comfortable rubber safety surfacing and seating options.

The Creo team took a sensory approach with the surfacing and equipment elements that were introduced into the space. Looking for ways to add texture and interest into the space through the use of artificial turf, rubber mulch, wood, rocks, and plantings. These little touches have created a well-rounded play space that has brought life into a previously underutilized space within the school.

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Kings Plant Barn

The new Kings Plant Barn site at Stonefield’s has taken an innovative and ground-breaking approach to the services available when visiting the garden centre.

Client:

Kings Plant Barn

Location:

Mt Wellington, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$115,000

Located in Mt Wellington, Auckland, the new site features a new look, with a variety of beautiful and colourful plants, a café, and a brand-new play space.

When looking to develop and open the new store, the team at Kings Plant Barn wanted to create a play space to accompany the garden centre, offering a new experience for their customers and little visitors.

Creo worked with Kings Plant Barn to design and build a unique and natural-looking space that can provide both play value and be used to exhibit some of the lush greenery. The design incorporates muted, earthy tones that blend seamlessly with the plantings. Rubber mulch surfacing, water features, and rubber-surfaced play accessories were also brought into the space to add texture, height, and play for young children needing entertainment when visiting the store.

A collection of plants borders the play space, creating the perfect backdrop to the indoor area. Creo worked to create a visually open space that is welcoming and vibrant, adding value, activity, and personality to this new Kings Plant Barn.

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Rosehill School

An engaging new play space for the students at Rosehill Special School.

Client:

Rosehill School

Location:

Papakura, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$360,000

Rosehill School is a vibrant, specialist community made up of students aged 5 to 21 with specific learning needs. Located in Papakura, south of Auckland, the school has a roll of 302 learners with a diverse range of interests and abilities.

After a large school renovation, principal Gill Hedley and her team contacted Creo to help create a brand-new play space for their students.

The area around the newly built classrooms was a large, blank, concrete space that got very hot in the sun and wasn’t the safest to play on. Because of the surface, the school was unable to use the space all year round, so they decided to work with Creo to design and build a play space that could increase activity and get students engaged in play.

There were a number of play elements the team at Rosehill School wanted to incorporate into their new space. Including a large sand pit area with water, plantings, and different surface options that could create a sensory experience for their students.

“We’ve got kids with autism, or mental delays, or physical needs and all those sorts of things, so we really wanted swinging, movement, but also a challenge for all those kids that would like to try something more tricky.”

Throughout the design process, Creo worked closely with Gill to bring together a concept that catered to the needs and interests of the students.

“It was really nice working with them [Creo] because they were patient and able to go along with that journey. They had also done lots of projects around the community. They kind of knew where we were coming from and what we needed.”

The new space is vibrant, safe, accessible, and full of play opportunities for students to explore, including large swings, a trampoline, balance play, bike tracks, and a large sandpit. The area is full of colour and texture, keeping students engaged and curious through play.

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Silverdale School

Water is a great way to activate sensory playgrounds

“We’ve got this fantastic space now that kids love using.”

Client:

Silverdale School

Location:

Auckland

Circa Budget:

$214,000

With a school community made up of 840 students, Silverdale School is an exciting, and diverse learning environment.

In 2022, Principal Cameron Lockie got in touch with the team at Creo to update a tired, existing play space that no longer fitted the needs of the students at his school. He explains, “We had this space that wasn’t really working for us. We had some hump and some artificial grass, and they were falling apart. It was looking very old and not very user-friendly.”

Cameron got in touch with Creo, after checking out the Creo Project Portfolio that came through his office. He began exploring the range of fun and colourful play spaces Creo had created with other schools.

“I went through that [the portfolio] and saw some spaces that I loved. Selwyn Ridge: [ I] saw their water play, and also another school that had some humps. And I thought that’s what I want for our school.”

From the circa pricing shown in the portfolio, Cameron was able to see the extent of the play spaces he was able to achieve within the school’s budget.

“Play space is very important to us. Making sure that we have enough space for all our 840 tamariki to run around and have fun in.”

With a focus on creating a fun open play environment, a space was designed to reflect the values, community, and creativity of the students at Silverdale.

Celebrating the natural and coastal environment of the school, the new play space features water play, mounds, rocks, balance beams, and landscaping. It has become a fun and calming space where students can play, eat their lunch, and do their schoolwork.

The imprinted school values on the rubber safety surface have added a personal touch to the space that gives students ownership of their environment and keeps them focused on their learning.

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Berryfields Crossing

The play space at Berryfields Crossing is a public play area created to accompany the new “community-focused” commercial development in Richmond, Nelson.

Client:

Gibbons Holdings

Location:

Richmond, Nelson

Circa Budget:

$210,000

The site of the development is a historic berry field. This horticultural story is celebrated through the modern design and architecture of the new commercial space and outdoor play space.

The developers of the site contacted Creo to help design and create a play space that would continue the story of the berry fields and add value to future visitors of the commercial site.

The Creo team designed a concept that plays on the berry theme. Using rich red, purple and green colours, the space tells the story of rolling hills represented by the rolling mounds and fresh berries created through 3D steppers that bring interest and dimension into the space.

The star of the space is the unique sculpture in the centre. The architects involved in the commercial development really wanted to showcase the timber structure in the play space. The design piece mirrors the rolling berry fields that are reflected in the play space surfacing while adding a sculptural element that sparks interest in those passing by. The natural wooden colours are also reminiscent of the nearby beach environment and the outdoor lifestyle of the community.

Created for both play value and design, this play space is a fun and exciting part of the Berryfields Crossing development.

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Papatoetoe West Primary School

Client:

Papatoetoe West Primary School

Location:

Auckland

Circa Budget:

$130,000

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Te Papapa School

Client:

Te Papapa School

Location:

Onehunga, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$180,000

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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

Glenavon School

Client:

Glenavon School

Location:

Auckland

Circa Budget:

$175,000

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

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Clyde River Park Playground

Client:

Central Otago District Council

Location:

Clyde, Otago

Circa Budget:

$230,000

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.

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Kaurilands School

Kaurilands School is located in the Titirangi suburb of Auckland. The large primary school has a cohort of around 800 students from Years 1-6, creating a vibrant and rich school community.

Client:

Kaurilands School

Location:

Titirangi, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$300,000

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

Rewa Rewa School

Rewa Rewa School is a primary school located in Newlands, Wellington. The school welcomes students from new entrants through to year 6, offering an inclusive and diverse learning environment.

Client:

Rewa Rewa School

Location:

Newlands, Wellington

Circa Budget:

$130,000

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

Kings Plant Barn

Client:

Kings Plant Barn

Location:

Mt Wellington, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$115,000

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

Rosehill School

Client:

Rosehill School

Location:

Papakura, Auckland

Circa Budget:

$360,000