Year 7 Transition Building

This new 4-storey building comprises 6 classrooms, locker room and large undercroft, staff facilities, a prayer space, offices and a two storey Resource Centre. Classrooms are arranged along wide verandahs, continuing the language of the adjacent elongated, linear classroom buildings. The Resource Centre, staff room and amenities are stacked vertically at the junction of the two classroom buildings with a double-height ‘lantern’ at the pinnacle, poetically expressing this junction and the entry to the Resource Centre.

Robust materials of off-form concrete, brick, rendered blockwork, prefinished compressed fibre cement cladding and corrugated metal sheeting are tempered with the finer grain of balustrading and external sunshading. Translucent sheeting to the lantern element floods the Resource Centre entry with diffused natural light, and acts as a beacon when lit in the evening. Internally, a neutral palette of white and grey is warmed by timber batten acoustic and decorative panels and candy-coloured loose furniture.

The planning of all the spaces within the large footprint of this building maximises access to natural light and ventilation. Classrooms are arranged along wide, shaded verandahs, while the larger spaces of the staff room and Resource Centre are provided with two deck areas (to the western and southern elevations). Low energy light fittings and water saving plumbing fixtures were utilised throughout. Extensive solar modelling was undertaken and external solar shading is provided to all spaces to reduce heat gain in summer.