Redlands College College heart

Wellington Point, Redland City

College Heart defines the heart of the School and redefines the student experience of learning. Located at Redlands College, Wellington Point, the project brings together key elements for learning from the Student perspective; library, learning spaces, teachers, wellbeing support and food.  

The School Masterplan revealed the need to address learning from the student perspective and to create a space which engendered a sense of belonging. The intent was to develop a ‘Building for Learning’  which was supported on the 4 pillars of Students | Learning | Place | Community. The large covered area close to the front of the school shelters and orientates users. Ground floor houses the Junior and Senior Library, flexible learning space, Student Services and Wellbeing, hospitality kitchens and the tuckshop. Level 1 incorporates Teacher workplace, meeting rooms, flexible classrooms, Academic professional development library and School executive.

Students are placed at the heart of the building and all aspects of their learning journey are considered. The public and democratic nature of the space empowers students to actively seek out support if needed but also to extend their learning with access to teachers and tutors.

Learning is made explicit and all spaces in the building support learning in different ways. The Library which was once enclosed, opaque and intimidating is now transparent with multiple entries, radically increasing the amount of space for collaboration and interaction.

Place is conveyed through the scale of the covered space, enhanced by the drama of the entry, compressing and releasing sense of height and opening up views to the campus. The simple planning makes all parts legible. It is a place where parents and students can gather before and after school.

Communities of students and teachers are supported with access to gathering spaces, meeting spaces and generous and flexible Library space. However it is the Parent community that is actively encouraged to participate in School life with the Tuckshop Café and the covered area for community events and cooking classes in the Hospitality kitchens.

“Importantly this building is called College Heart, not just because it is a central integrating space for our community, but because it is only alive and beating when students are learning in it. These learning spaces enable the relationships that come from the heart to be fully expressed, and form the foundational element of any successful learning journey between staff, students and parents.”

- Dr Andrew Johnson, Principal, Redlands College.

Completed

2020

Size

3, 800m2

Client

Redlands College

Key Personnel

Phillip Lukin, Hamilton Wilson, Christina Solomon, Peter Mitchell, John Harrison, Ilka Salisbury

Contractor

Rohrig (Qld) Pty Ltd

Photography

Alex Chomicz

Traditional Owners

Yuggera Nation