Client:
School Infrastructure NSW
Location:
Chatswood, NSW
Floor Area:
New buildings 17 730 m2 GFA
Refurbishment 1670 m2 GFA
Status:
Design
Contact Person:
Marina Carroll
The Chatswood Education Precinct will transform existing primary and high school campuses into contemporary collaborative learning environments through thoughtful architecture that reflects nature and context.
The school consists of a rich tapestry of cultural heritage, geographic prominence and historic architecture. Architectus’ design approach respects and expands upon these surrounds with adaptable and elegant learning environments that will serve the school for many years to come.
The two sites that comprise this project are unique in their topography, setting and existing architecture. Located on the Pacific Highway, the primary school – “a school on a hill” – is elevated above the main road frontage with a sweeping outlook. The Centennial Avenue high school site – “a school in the trees” – is situated on a leafy green campus.
Despite these differences, the design forms connections between the campuses through a consistent, collaborative design process with Architectus working alongside the school, School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW), Oculus landscape architects, and various other stakeholders. The subsequent architectural expression is reflective of this process, which deeply considers student behaviours, learning environments, site context and sustainable practices.
The architecture engages with terrain to create diverse opportunities for outdoor learning, including atriums, terraces and rooftop spaces that promote free flow between the learning environments and the surrounding green space.
“Both schools are designed for learning experiences connected through landscape. The Architecture is crafted with masonry and brickwork as a reference to local heritage, topography and sustainable building practices.”
– Alan J Duffy, Principal, Design Lead
Client:
School Infrastructure NSW
Location:
Chatswood, NSW
Floor Area:
New buildings 17 730 m2 GFA
Refurbishment 1670 m2 GFA
Status:
Design
Contact Person:
Marina Carroll
