Professor Lynn Corcoran
Early Learning Centre Froebel Parkville

Located on the campus of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, FROEBEL Parkville delivers high-quality bilingual early education and STEM learning in a purpose-built vertical facility.

Developed in partnership with not-for-profit provider FROEBEL Australia, the centre accommodates up to 100 children aged 3 months to 5 years, integrating a funded kindergarten program within a compact 400m² footprint. Each level features external north-facing adventure terraces, creating light-filled, sensory-rich environments overlooking University High School’s fields.

Outdoor play areas offer tactile experiences through water, sand, planting, and sound-based elements, while seasonal and edible gardens enrich learning. Cultural inclusion is embedded through engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders, with cultural elements integrated throughout as part of a broader reconciliation strategy.

Setting a benchmark for vertical early learning centres, FROEBEL Parkville supports families within Melbourne’s medical precinct by combining architectural innovation with educational excellence and wellbeing.