Darlington Public School

A W Edwards, subsidiary of Bouygues Bâtiment International, delivered the redevelopment of Darlington Public School, located in Sydney's inner west, through a carefully planned two-stage construction process.

The project involved the demolition of the existing school and its reconstruction in phases, allowing teaching activities to continue throughout the works. During Stage 1, the school remained operational in its original facilities before moving into the newly completed first building, while Stage 2 was delivered. 

The new multi-storey campus provides 19 homebases, modern administration and staff facilities, a library, specialist learning spaces, a hall, canteen, and three preschool classrooms, creating a contemporary and flexible learning environment designed to support a wide range of educational needs. 

With 25% of students from Indigenous backgrounds, the project placed strong emphasis on cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. The architectural design celebrates the school’s Indigenous heritage, preserving and showcasing an extensive collection of Aboriginal artworks integrated throughout the campus. 

Sustainability is a defining feature of the redevelopment. Passive design strategies were incorporated to enhance comfort and environmental performance, including sawtooth roofs to optimise sunlight exposure, high-level glazing for indirect daylight, and curved screens to filter natural light. 

In recognition of its architectural, social and environmental qualities, Darlington Public School was awarded World Building of the Year 2024 at the World Architecture Festival, standing as a benchmark for community-focused, inclusive educational design and its positive impact on learning environments.