Turrbal people
Queensland
Brisbane
The Canopy Cafe occupies a ‘left over’ space at the edge of the St Margaret’s campus, fronting a public street and adjoining the heritage-listed Darnell Music Building. Located at the junction of the primary and secondary schools, the cafe is designed to encourage social interaction across all year levels.
The cafe is conceived as a series of gabled and half-gabled roofs with skylights that flood the social spaces with daylight, responding in form, texture and colour to the neighbouring heritage building. The roofs form the effect of lightweight canopies under the natural canopy of a large fig tree, already serving as a meeting place. A change of level is transformed into an amphitheatre, and an under croft revitalised for additional social interaction.
The Canopy Cafe has proven not only popular with students, but as a meeting venue for staff, parents and alumni.
The Canopy Café has significantly transformed the school campus, designed to thoughtfully integrate with the surrounding environment and connect the primary and secondary schools.
The cafeteria facilitates efficient flow of food and beverage service with flexibility to offer a fresh and varied menu, while the seating area provides a modern venue to host gatherings and events or an additional learning space.
A place of connection, not just for students and staff, but for visitors to the school campus including parents and alumni, the Canopy Café is a vibrant hub that reflects the school’s strong sense of community.
Jayson Blight, Design Director
Madeleine Nicol, Project Architect
Holly Quince, Architecture Student
Nina Sapparth, Architecture Student
Ben Carter, BIM Manager
Perry Gustafson, Construction Technology Leader
DMA Partners, Project Manager
Jeremy Ferrier, Landscape Consultant
Bligh Tanner, Structural Engineer
Bligh Tanner, Civil Consultant
Meptec, Mechanical
Meptec, ESD Consultant
Meptec, Hydraulic Consultant
Meptec, Electrical Consultant
Meptec, Fire Protection and Fire Services
Meptec, Acoustic Consultant
TTM Group, Waste Consultant
Brisbane Commercial Kitchens, Food and Beverage Consultant
Jensen Hughes, DDA Access Consultant