Victoria
This project is a Science Centre for Macleod Secondary College which also attempts to suggest a new urban design approach for the future of the school and includes:
-direct but graduated connection between interiors and exteriors,
-porosity – an ability to see and move through buildings across the site,
-orientation to the north (against the prevailing grain of east and west orientation),
-carving out pockets of useful, habitable, space between buildings.
The architectural language draws heavily on Macleod’s 1970’s exemplars and incorporates dynamic skillions and an exploded plan which separates the parts with under-cover external areas. Rooms are discrete, cross-ventilated entities with diverse aspects, spatially complex and comfortably able to make use of both internal and external spaces for both educational and informal purposes. Boardwalks suggest a future campus urban design with long views into and beyond the site, a new de-institutionalised and kid-focused place.
Kennedy Nolan’s Macleod College Science Centre breathes fresh air into this existing campus, with a contemporary response expressing a clear vision and confident identity. Strategic demolition unlocks opportunities for connections and courtyards, creating a highly legible and compelling campus, refreshing the public interface and inviting future development.
Working hard within constraints and consistently seeking opportunities for generosity, purposeful specialist teaching spaces are delivered with joyful highlights. Releasing circulation from corridors, breezeways cleverly allow porosity, inviting occupation and supporting the broader vision for a connected campus. Delightfully permeable bathrooms welcome light and air indoors.
Responding to the materiality of the existing 1970s buildings, the soft tonal external palette references the native bushland and settles comfortably into the surrounding landscape. A confident complimentary interior palette offers an inviting and uplifting interior. Bullnose-roof forms and curves create dynamic form, with considered details enabling clean simple lines.
Deftly articulated, this project feels effortless. Smart decisions have been made to provide texture and warmth within a robust palette. This astute care given to material selection, form and spatial planning provide great value. This project presents a highly engaging contemporary environment for learning, providing an optimistic template for public schools to come.
Danny Truong, Project Architect
Elizabeth Campbell, Project Architect
Hilary Duff, Project Architect
Patrick Kennedy, Design Architect
Rachel Nolan, Design Architect
Susan Syer, Design Architect
Brogue Consulting Engineering, Structural Engineer
BRT Consulting Engineers, Services Consultant
Simon Ellis Landscape Architects, Landscape Consultant
Urban Digestor, ESD Consultant
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.
