Fifteen years after first opening its doors, New Shoots Rosedale is coming back to life — reimagined, refurbished, and ready to welcome a new generation of tamariki and whānau.

For many in the New Shoots whānau, Rosedale isn’t just another centre. It’s a place layered with memories, relationships, and the early foundations of what New Shoots would grow to become. Returning to this space has been both nostalgic and deeply purposeful: an opportunity to honour what was, while intentionally creating what comes next.

Michelle Pratt, one of our founders, describes the experience as one of moving through deeply familiar spaces while simultaneously nurturing new futures for the next generation of tamariki: a balance that has guided the renovation from the outset. As she puts it, “every day you walk through these rooms remembering the past, while creating new futures for children.”

Coming Full Circle

For kaiako like Barb and Gillian, as for Michelle, returning to Rosedale has felt like stepping back into a familiar story, now ready for a new chapter.

Barb was part of the original opening, having watched the centre first be built, and grown alongside it. Fifteen years on, coming back feels less like a return to the past and more like starting again, intentionally rebuilding relationships, culture, and a sense of belonging for children, families, and teams.

Gillian has been part of the New Shoots whānau for over 15 years, and is now Centre Director at New Shoots Sunnynook. Her teaching journey began at Rosedale as a newly graduated kaiako, learning alongside a young team finding its feet together. That shared experience shaped a strong sense of collective responsibility, shared vision, and values that continue to underpin her leadership today.

Together, their reflections speak to what has always sat at the heart of Rosedale: strong relationships, a cohesive team culture, and a shared commitment to putting children first.

Reimagining the Spaces

While the structure of the building remains, the renovation has thoughtfully built on what was already there. Tucked into the back of an industrial zone and overlooking a council reserve, the centre has a sleek, modern form, defined by expansive glazed walls that flood the interior with natural light and create a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.

At the heart of the building, a pop-up atrium rises above the roofline. It draws daylight deep into the space below and forms a striking architectural focal point. Clean lines, transparency, and a seamless flow between inside and out give the centre a contemporary, open, and welcoming feel.

The building was originally designed by award-winning architect Phil Smith, with interiors by Jason Bonham. At the time, the design was industry-leading and made a bold statement. After operating as an early childhood centre for 14 years, the renovation has been an opportunity to refresh the environment, embracing the past by building on the strong foundations already there.

Designing Rosedale

The first phase of the renovation was led by Chloe Forsman, who has been designing New Shoots centres and learning spaces for over 12 years. Working closely with the New Shoots property team and build partners, Chloe guided the interior design and was project manager for the refresh. The redesign was grounded in a clear philosophy: spaces should support how children feel, move, and belong within them.

Drawing on Enspirement’s theory of The Potential Place, as outlined by Sandra Duncan, the design team considered the emotional experience of children within the environment. Rather than focusing solely on aesthetics, the renovation explored how the space could support excitement and curiosity, connection and belonging, moments of awe, places of retreat, and a growing sense of confidence and independence.

Because this was a renovation of a space rich in history, existing design ideas became a source of inspiration rather than something to remove. Timber boxing already present in the atrium was extended throughout the interior, gently lowering the scale of larger spaces and defining activity areas that feel more appropriate for children under five. Natural greenery was introduced throughout, offering places to pause, connect with nature, and move through the centre with purpose.

Material choices have played a key role in supporting this experience. Natural wool flooring provides warmth, along with thermal and acoustic comfort, in busy learning spaces. Curved timber furniture, crafted with care, soften the rooms and mirror the natural world, supporting both safety and comfort. Timber detailing adds subtle texture and helps layer the spaces without overwhelming them.

Indirect natural light floods the interior, creating ideal conditions to bring the outdoors in. Grounded in biophilic design principles, the renovation supports wellbeing by reducing stress, improving focus, and creating calm, restorative environments for both children and teachers. In partnership with Touch of the Tropics, sustainable plant species were introduced to bring a sense of awe and wonder, and to enrich the sensory experience throughout the centre.

Art, Identity, and the Rosedale Story

One of the most striking features of the renovated centre is the mural created by artist Jen Sievers.

Ten years ago, before moving into her practice as a full-time artist, Jen worked at New Shoots as Marketing Manager. For Jen, New Shoots has always felt like family. It was clear she was the right person to create something joyous that would form the backbone of the interior space.

The atrium was our starting point, framed by planted posts and existing display boxing that snakes along the hallway and frames viewing windows into the children’s spaces and administrative areas. As the team revisited the space, there were still peeks of the beautiful floral wallpaper that once lined the end wall and was later painted over. This discovery became the inspiration needed to breathe new life back into the building.

Drawing on her history with New Shoots, and a colour palette inspired by a softened version of the original scheme, we asked Jen to create something a little different as her contribution to Rosedale — an artwork with texture, meaning, and story. The brief was to create a three-dimensional mural inspired by the original wallpaper, framed by the existing boxing refreshed with colour to provide further depth and warmth.

Jen’s floral, three-dimensional mural celebrates what New Shoots has always stood for: growth, play, and community. It also offers a subtle nod to Rosedale’s past, referencing the centre’s earlier, brighter colour palette in a refined and contemporary way.

Each room now features a single flower, echoing the main mural and creating continuity throughout the centre.

The Outdoor Environment

Outdoors, the transformation is just as significant, and deeply connected to Rosedale’s past.

Walking the playground together, Michelle, Gillian, and Barb reflected on how familiar the space still feels, even as it has been carefully reshaped. Trees have been trimmed back to reveal native planting, long-hidden areas have been reopened and sightlines improved, creating an environment that feels open, layered, and connected.

Although the playground has always been generous in size, it is now easier to use intentionally. Gated zones allow different levels to be opened throughout the day, supporting supervision while still offering children choice, challenge, and freedom of movement.

There is also a strong focus on sustainability. Rocks from the original playground have been reused across the site, existing features retained where possible, and familiar elements thoughtfully reintegrated.

Designed by Wearthy alongside the New Shoots design team, and brought to life by Construction2, the playground balances challenge with calm through climbing elements, shaded spaces, carpentry areas, and natural planting by Touch of the Tropics.

Eco Lawn turf has been used in the outdoor spaces, offering a safe, durable surface with a certified critical fall height rating of up to 1.8 metres, alongside a commitment to recyclable, environmentally conscious materials.

Natural pathways now lead children down quieter areas and through to the bush beyond, opening up opportunities for exploration, risk-taking, and connection with nature. Michelle describes the playground as feeling like an old-fashioned Kiwi backyard — expansive, layered, and full of possibility — while Barb reflects that it still carries the same feeling it did 15 years ago, just re-tuned for today’s children.

Looking Ahead

As Rosedale opens this week, there is a strong sense of anticipation, not just for the spaces, but for the community that will fill them.

New Centre Director Emma Drake brings deep experience, a strong focus on relationships, and a commitment to building cohesive, supportive teams. She is looking forward to connecting with whānau and kaiako, and creating something special together at New Shoots Rosedale.

Enrolments are now open, and families are warmly invited to join us at the Open Day on Saturday 31st January. This will be a chance to explore the centre, meet the team, and experience the renovation firsthand.

To learn more about New Shoots Rosedale, visit the centre’s website page to explore our newest centre. Rosedale is ready for its next chapter.