Primary School in Mellieħa set to triple in size

The Maria Regina College Primary School in Mellieħa is set to undergo a major redevelopment that will increase its gross floor area nearly tenfold, from 4,218sqm to 40,198sqm, and expand its built footprint from 2,618sqm to roughly 11,000sqm.

The expansion is designed to accommodate a 23% increase in student numbers, growing from 569 to around 700 pupils, and a 20% rise in staff to 121 members, as well as a new childcare center for 40 children.

The project, proposed by the Foundation for Tomorrow’s School, aims to modernize the aging 1960s campus while providing a sustainable, carbon-neutral educational environment, with the school getting all its energy needs from solar panels.

The expansion in the school’s footprint is set to take place on adjacent undeveloped land already earmarked for school extension in the local plan and is entirely located in the development zone. The redevelopment will generally be one storey higher than the existing school.

At its maximum height above street level, specifically on Triq il-Madonna ta’ Fatima, the new school will reach four storeys, which is approximately 16.73 meters. Across the rest of the site, the school will comprise four levels of classrooms and facilities built above two basement levels of parking.

Modern student-centered facilities

The new school will feature purpose-built classrooms for vocational subjects, including art, music, media, and Physical and Social Development (PSD), alongside dedicated spaces for psycho-social support such as counseling and speech therapy. Multi-purpose halls, a library, and an innovative roof garden will enhance both student life and community engagement.

The architectural design balances modern aesthetics with heritage preservation.

Elements of the original Modernist hall pavilion and external façades will be retained, while new curved contemporary structures will create a visually dynamic campus. Ancient rock-cut chambers on the site, historically used as wartime shelters and possibly earlier burial spaces, will be preserved in situ and converted into a public interpretation area accessible to the community after school hours.

Catering for population growth

The redevelopment responds to a combination of population growth and evolving educational policies emphasizing diversity, inclusion, and interactive learning. Existing classrooms are currently overcrowded and insufficient for modern pedagogical methods, prompting the creation of flexible, technology-enabled spaces tailored to individual student needs.

The project reflects a broader shift away from traditional didactic teaching toward experiential and student-centered approaches.

The school is designed as a net-zero energy facility, featuring a 350kWP photovoltaic system expected to generate 511,000kWh annually, surpassing its projected annual demand of 330,000kWh. Rainwater harvesting through two reservoirs totalling 1,100m³ will supply water for irrigation and other non-potable uses.

Construction will require excavation of approximately 38,000m³ of limestone, with specialized techniques to navigate an east-west striking fault, managed under a detailed Construction Management Plan to mitigate noise, dust, and vibration impacts.

The redevelopment will make its facilities, including halls, libraries, and the roof garden, available to the Mellieħa community outside school hours. To address existing off-street parking issues and cater to the expanded population, the development is set to include 209 parking spaces.