Kabi Kabi People
Queensland
Sunshine Coast
Design for Kawana Waters State College S-Block is influenced by the building’s aquatic context along with existing colours and textures within the school.
Fronting the oval, the building encloses a newly-formed quadrangle bounded by Stage-1 V-Block and an existing Science building. The eastern façade mimics the north face of adjacent V-Block, carrying its identity through to the prominent aspect and unifying the interconnected buildings. The western face relates to the adjacent south face of V-Block, using the same double-height blockwork, but in blade-form to shield harsh south-western conditions and direct pedestrian flow and ventilation through the building.
Internally, the breezeway distributes circulation efficiently along the length of the building, encouraging natural light and ventilation along this path with support from a longitudinal clerestory. Ceilings curve to meet this clerestory for enhanced light reflectance and thermal purging, creating interest at the entries and reflecting the ocean concept.
The new General Learning Centre at Kawana Waters State College provides the school with 4 additional general-purpose classrooms, a robotics space and a science lab, all located around a central collaborative zone. The classrooms overlook the oval which has enhanced surveillance of this area, and the building generally completes the masterplanned precinct that began with Stage 1 V Block. Students now have a landscaped quadrangle in which to congregate enclosed by the two new interconnected buildings.
arkLAB’s design is complimentary to the existing school buildings whilst being modern, easily maintained, and an inspiring place to teach and learn.
Annie Ke, Graduate of Architecture
Daniel Killen, Design and Project Architect
Tafnis Ramirez, Graduate of Architecture
Toby Mackay, Documentation Review
Will Simpson, Project Architect
Aptus, Building Surveyor
Ashburner Francis, Services Consultant
Bligh Tanner, Civil Consultant
Bligh Tanner, Structural Engineer
RJHS, Hydraulic Consultant