Brisbane South State Secondary College

2022 National Architecture Awards

Brisbane South State Secondary College | BVN | Photographer: Christopher Frederick-Jones


2022 National Architecture Awards: The Daryl Jackson Award for Educational Architecture

Brisbane South State Secondary College | BVN

Traditional Land Owners: Turrbal and Jagera Peoples 

Brisbane South State Secondary College, the city’s newest vertical campus, offers next level learning connected with the contemporary knowledge network and the country it is bound to – a ridge historically used for camping, weaving and the making of tools by the local First Nations.

Visitors are welcomed within a generous arrival court into a memorable and vibrant central native garden, a magnet for community into the campus. Open galleries across all levels fringe the garden, encouraging interactions and framing views to the surrounding landscape.

Multi-discipline learning hubs are characterised by open and adaptable spaces arranged around double height presentation and making settings in order to share the benefits of education with all.

The architectural language is derived from the First Nations heritage of the site as a place of making, informing the scored details within the concrete facade, as well as harnessing a local palette of colours and materials.

JURY CITATION

Brisbane South State Secondary College masterfully creates connections to place that fluctuate between distant visual connections and close physical connections. Architectural devices frame significant existing landscapes, carefully intertwining these views with primary circulation systems to allow distant landscapes to become part of the intimate everyday experience and educational opportunity.

Building mass is strategically pushed to the site perimeter, creating generous internal courtyards and strong public connections. External movement systems are carefully structured around the sequence of courtyards, binding movement to landscape. The terracing of movement and landscape evokes a sense of moving through the hills, promoting the value of landscape to enrich the learning experience and subliminally improve our understanding of the world around us.

External movement spaces are shaded, ventilated and effectively developed to encourage informal meeting and learning opportunities while creating a safe and secure environment.

Interior spaces allow for flexibility of use, creating short- and long-term viability that is responsive and adaptable to a variety of teaching methods.

Brisbane South State Secondary College is an exemplary outcome by BVN that will resonate beyond the borders of Queensland.


Brisbane South State Secondary College | BVN | Photographer: Christopher Frederick-Jones

Client perspective:
How does the design benefit the way you live/work/play/operate/educate/other?

We are extremely happy to be at this amazing school and every day we continue to find new ways to use the innovative spaces for cross discipline project-based learning.

The beautiful architecture and gardens together with the diverse range of open and contemporary learning environments has created endless opportunities to inspire curious minds with flexibility and agility they need to connect, contribute and leave their mark on the world.

Practice team:

Brian Donovan, Project Architect
Mark Grimmer, Principal Architect
Ali Bounds, Project Architect, Principal Architect
Terry Braddock, Project Architect
Abbie Lewis, Interior Designer
Belinda McGrath, Interior Designer
Amanda Robinson Interior Designer
Damian Eckersley, Design Architect
Ivan Tejada Navajas, Graduate of Architecture
Jared Bird, Design Architect
Katrina Robinson, Graduate of Architecture
Kevin O’Brien, Project Architect, Principal Architect
Nathan Harry, Visualisation Artist
Nik Strugar, Graduate of Architecture
Rachel Wardrobe, Design Architect
Scarlett Donovan, Architectural Student
Scott Hardcastle, Design Architect
Stuart Young, Design Architect
Tersius Maass, Design Architect
Vinay Bhat, Design Architect
Zsolt Kiss, Graduate of Architecture

Builder:

Broad

Construction team:

Ridgemill, Project Manager
Plus, Contractor Architect
Broad, Contractor
Cambray, Traffic & Transport
Adam Connor Design, Food Services
Phillip Chun, BCA & DDA
WSP, Fire Engineer
WSP, Façade
Stantec, Acoustic Consultant
Stantec, Section J
Stantec, Services Consultant
Bornhourst & Ward, Structural Engineer
Bornhourst & Ward, Civil Consultant
JFP, Landscape Consultant
Collaborative Cost Management, Quantity Surveyor

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