New South Wales
This pivotal step in the master-planned extension of Abbotsleigh Senior School focuses the campus with a sculptural building designed around remnant blue gum forest.
The butterfly shaped building treads lightly on the site, woven between mature tree two heritage houses that bookend the site. Cloud point surveys helped determine the optimal form to preserve tree canopy and root systems.
Its two organically shaped wings – one for science, one for art – are joined centrally by a curved glass-enclosed walkway. In the spirit of scientific inquiry, the science wing expresses its material construction with exposed structure and services, while the art workshops and studios are naturally lit from windows and skylights to the south.
Multi-use assembly spaces, staff and meeting rooms and informal breakout areas are distributed through both wings, with unprogrammed public spaces adjoining the glass bridge at either end, fostering dialogue between art and science exhibitions and happenings.
The building which we like to call our very own ‘Renaissance Centre’ enhances the learning and wellbeing of our girls through inspiring and innovative architecture. We had identified the pressing need for a new facility that catered for our focus on STEAM, enhanced 21st century learning, and given its location, protected established trees and respected the heritage setting. We are delighted that the architects went to great lengths to combine all of these needs to create a highly innovative, visually pleasing, environmentally sensitive and comprehensive building project that complements and respects its heritage setting.
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
