G Block, one of the original heritage-listed buildings, presented a unique challenge during its refurbishment. With portions dating back over 150 years, the existing learning spaces were small, cellular, and lacked natural light and visibility. Constraints imposed by Heritage Victoria further shaped the project, requiring a soft-touch approach that minimised change and appearance while making the necessary changes to ensure the refurbished building supported contemporary learning.

Our design approach addressed these challenges by selectively removing walls, opening and connecting spaces, and introducing variability in learning environments to enhance flexible learning and student engagement. A new membrane structure covers a previously underutilised central courtyard creating a vibrant and functional heart to the building that provides ample study space, strategically adjacent to teaching spaces.

Despite the challenges of this project, the outcome is a thoughtful, scaled-back solution that preserves and celebrates the building’s rich heritage while ensuring it meets the needs of contemporary education.