OUR SERVICES

Education Architecture

We create school and community learning environments that prioritise learning outcomes, wellbeing and long-term performance.

Our process is highly collaborative, involving principals, trust boards and teachers early in the design to understand curriculum needs, teaching styles and daily patterns of use.

Our work focuses on clarity of movement, durability and natural light, supported by the ability to produce detailed joinery design and interior furnishing layouts for complete learning environments.

WHAT WE BRING

  • Principal architects for all education projects

  • Expertise in school upgrades and learning spaces

  • Designs focused on safety and circulation

  • Sustainable, permaculture-informed solutions

  • Strong knowledge of Ministry and council processes

An empty classroom with a colorful patterned carpet, green walls, wooden accents, and a large window with a view of mountains and sky. The room contains a piano, a black chair, and various items on shelves and the floor.
A community center or public building with yellow exterior walls, large windows, and a gabled roof, illuminated at dusk with a walkway leading to the entrance.

Our Educational Architectural Process

  • We begin with an initial briefing to understand your goals, curriculum needs and the daily rhythms of your school. This is followed by a site measure of the existing buildings and property, gathering information on layout, condition and constraints to establish a clear foundation for design.

  • We develop early spatial layouts, sketches and 3D architectural models that explore flow, safety, daylight and movement across learning areas. These early concepts provide a shared understanding for principals, teachers and trust boards.

  • We refine the design in detail, reviewing materials, structure, joinery, circulation and acoustic performance. This stage ensures the environment is durable and aligned with long-term teaching and community needs.

  • We prepare coordinated technical drawings and specifications required for building consent and work with council, consultants and Ministry of education requiements to ensure compliance. Clear documentation reduces uncertainty and supports a smooth approval process.

  • We work with schools on a case by case basis to provide a service best fitted for them and their team during the construction phase.

  • We also provide other services covering master planning, resource consents, feasibility studies and permaculture design.

Take a look at a selection of our education projects, designed for flexibility, comfort and long-term performance.

VIEW ALL PROJECTS

Reach Out to Our Architects

Planning a new learning space or upgrading existing facilities?Chat to our experienced architects who'd love to discuss how we can support your school’s needs.

Contact Our Team

  • My husband and I were so fortunate to have Bell Stephenson as our architect for our new residential build; they made the process simple and thoroughly enjoyable by providing clear communication, guidance, and creative expertise. We would absolutely and unequivocally collaborate with them again and have already referred them to close friends.

    — Jason and Wendy Benwell

  • We engaged Bell Stephenson to build our new house and were amazed that after just one meeting, they had a concept plan that was perfect and needed no modification. They were friendly, approachable, offered valued suggestions, kept our project within budget, and delivered a fabulous home that is everything we wanted.

    — Sandra Hobbs

  • Gabrielle Bell of Bell Stephenson Architects provided concept and working drawings for an Early Childhood Education Centre in Motueka. Her expert guidance, research, and attention to detail ensured our Resource and Building Consents were accepted without delay, and their approachable, professional team made communication easy while keeping the design on track with our budget.

    — Wendy Whitehead