PROJECT INFORMATION
Year Completed: 2017
Project Team: Andrew Thomson and Adrian Vockerodt
PROJECT
A key project of the College Academic Excellence initiative, the upgrade of the 1950s and 1970s teaching facility was performed in three phases in order to accommodate new ways of learning and transform a drab and dated face-brick collection of buildings into a showpiece for the College. The existing science classrooms were transformed into multi-use teaching laboratories to maximise the limited space and a new prep lab, toilets and staff offices were added. Dark corridors were opened up with shopfronts to feature labs and new computer labs were incorporated in the lower level.
The two-level library was a particular challenge, being dated, overheated in summer and somewhat isolated from the flow of students. The classrooms were too small and suffered from summer heat gain. The design response was to change the flow of students by adding covered balcony access on the north side of the classrooms and library, incorporating the former south access corridor to enlarge the classrooms and shading the north façade of the buildings. The existing auditorium was reconstructed to allow space for a new multi-use foyer to the library, showcasing the transformed library to the redirected flow of students. The new library, auditorium and classrooms successfully hosted a recent National Librarians Conference. The new library features a makerspace studio, coffee corner, mobile curved bookcases, informal study areas, group workrooms and a cosy reading corner. The public façade has been transformed to fit with the campus ethic and the top floor has been opened up to the balcony with lovely views over the sports fields and clock tower.