Victoria
The Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership sits within a rich heritage context. Built in 1858, the historic 3-level former government printworks in Melbourne’s Treasury precinct has been transformed into a state-of-the-art, contemporary adult learning and teaching facility. A guiding design principle for the project was to celebrate and connect with the heritage and cultural story of the building. The conceptual design framework imagines a creative journey linking all levels and spaces in the building, symbolising interconnection between past, present, and future. The idea is articulated further by the insertion of a linking staircase into an existing heritage lightwell. As a connector of time and space, the vertical link expresses light, creativity, nature, memories, and hope. The Academy fitout has innovative learning and teaching spaces that reflect the range of environments that teachers will encounter in contemporary education settings, including blended, face-to-face and digital learning models.
‘The space inspires imagination and innovation in professional learning for exceptional teachers and school leaders through a combination of natural light, living foliage, beautiful aesthetics, multiple layers, design, thinking, reflection and learning spaces and people interacting with all of these elements’
Cameron Smith, Project Architect
Christon Batey-Smith, Project Director and Architect
Isabella Peppard Clark, Project Architect
James McCutchan, Project Architect
Jane Sayers, Design Architect
Jesse Newstadt, Project Architect
Megan Morton, Interior Designer
Simon McKeown, Project Architect
Stephen Webb, Design Director
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.
