First Look: WA’s First Vertical Primary School Revealed

Fresh renderings of the $165-million East Perth Primary School project have been revealed in a development application by Western Australia’s Department of Housing and Works.

Although longer than it is high from all elevations, the project has been billed as WA’s “first vertical public primary school” by Premier Roger Cook.

The school will cater for 600 kindergarten to Year 6 pupils and span the former Queens Gardens bitumen parking lot that rises steeply up Horatio Street from Nelson Crescent to Waterloo Crescent.

At the 1.76ha site this week to mark the start of groundworks, WA planning minister John Carey said the project would ensure “we have the amenities and services for the current East Perth population but also encourage more residents to call the city home”.

The design allows for future expansion to accommodate an extra 200 students.

In the shadows of the Brutalist concrete light towers of the WACA ground, and abutting the Gloucester Park trots, the school’s U-shaped main building would include a 260sq m library, 80sq m for science teaching, 84sq m for art, and an 18sq m principal’s office.

The department anticipates the school’s sports field and two multi-sport courts would be open for public use outside of school hours.

A two-floor octagonal hall fronting Waterloo Crescent would have an assembly area, two classrooms, after-hours care area, a 49sq m canteen and 179sq m for the school’s music program.

There would be space for students to park 176 bicycles or scooters. Staff would have access to 10 bicycle racks and end-of-trip showers.

The project includes 22 car parks, comprising 17 drop-off and pick-up bays on Nelson Crescent and five undercroft bays for staff.

“Reduced parking availability requires the majority of visitors and families using the site to explore alternative travel opportunities other than private vehicle use,” the DA says.

“While the site of the 17-bay car park on Nelson Crescent may provide for future additional classrooms and a possible dental clinic, such potential future expansion facilities are not funded and do not form part of this development application.”

The department anticipates construction will start in June 2026 and complete by June 2028 for the school to open for the first term of 2029.

Perth-based CPB Contractors is undertaking the earthworks, including demolition of the parking lot.

CPB collaborated with Perth-headquartered EIW Architects and national firm ARM Architecture to finalise the design, including advising on materials and building methods.

Public submissions on the project close on December 23.