Built in 1922, the St Patrick’s Building represented significant heritage and cultural value to the College, yet comprised run-down facilities that could not support a shift to contemporary learning practices. From the outset, we understood the sensitivity of this project and the anxieties that were present within the school community around campus amalgamation, identity, and the changing pedagogy.

This drove our highly collaborative approach, including facilitating a detailed consultation process to establish a strong Educational Brief, engaging with staff during design and construction, and creating prototype spaces for staff and students to test and understand the implications of the design.

Our design objectives included creating a personalised learning approach and increasing flexibility and diversity of engaging learning spaces. In order to find a balance between full student independence in undefined work and study spaces, and more traditional classrooms (to ease the transition), zoned spaces encourage students to spread out and ‘take over’ the building, giving agency and ownership.

The design ensures that the heritage fabric and building spirit were not only retained but celebrated, including locating a new reception hub at the heritage heart of the school where visitors are immersed in a graphical archive-wall. Our approach resulted in a unique mix of spaces to support the aspired pedagogical outcomes while improving daylight, visibility, and overall functionality.