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This expansive centre presents a public face for an esteemed private school. It invites the community, reveals the learning activities of students and expresses a collaborative experience.

A series of variously glazed and linked pavilions run adjacent to a main thoroughfare and extend the existing heritage listed 19th century blue stone elevation to embody our central design idea of a transparent campus wall. Our design creates a new campus entry, consolidates the school’s library facilities and provides supporting lecture theatre and seminar rooms that create a learning focused campus centre.

  • Traditional Custodians Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation
  • Client Melbourne Grammar School
  • Location South Yarra, Victoria
  • Procurement International Design Competition
  • Project Duration 2004 – 2007
  • Floor Levels 3
  • Footprint 1430 sqm
  • Floor Area 3,430 sqm
  • Selected Awards
  • National Award for Public Architecture, RAIA National Architecture Awards 2008
  • Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture, RAIA National Architecture Awards 2008
  • William Wardell Public Architecture Award, RAIA Victorian Chapter 2008

This building is open to its surrounding environment, exposing the process of learning to the community whilst establishing visual and physical connection to the existing campus buildings, adjacent park and gardens, and an enormous historic Elm tree.

By contrast, the western most end is abstract and monumental, a solid but delicately detailed brick facade that symbolises the collection of books it encloses. Behind this edge building, an auditorium is pulled out from the plan so that the roof for this space becomes an external amphitheatre - a sporting pavilion - that faces onto one of the ovals.

Inside the main library building and against the glazed facade, a massive linear plank shifts alignment and size to become seating and desks, group learning zones and then a new collections area. Revealing the learning environment, these series of choreographed activities transform the building threshold to become dynamic and permeable.

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