In 2018, the Queensland Government’s Department of Education appointed BVN as the principal consultant to develop the concept master plan and design of the Brisbane South State Secondary College, a future-focused vertical campus located at Dutton Park in Brisbane.
BVN’s initial brief from the Department of Education was aspirational – a new vertical campus that could sit proudly within the Boggo Road Health and Knowledge Precinct, provide outstanding educational facilities to the growing inner-city population, and be a worthy partner to the famed Brisbane State High School.
Collaboration with universities, biomedical and science providers, and sports and community associations linking students to careers early are all features of this new school.
The relatively small site required the height of the buildings to be balanced with the requirement for maximum green space.
The school is squeezed onto a triangle of land between Annerley and Gladstone roads at Dutton Park, across the road from the former Boggo Road Prison and the state government’s new EcoSciences Precinct.
When you enter the school through the large outdoor court, you’ll experience an open, generous welcoming space that invites participation with the school and its grounds, and promotes public access to the facilities.
Pass through this portal and you arrive in the central terraced garden.
This space is a learning ‘oasis’.
It’s not only a green heart for the campus, but also a sheltered space for outdoor learning, social interaction, and play.
The school’s design embraces this space, opening to the north and the city view.
The design includes these major elements:
- Learning Hub
- Creative Hub
- Health and Wellbeing Hub
- Administration and Staff Hub
- a multipurpose hall
- a canteen
- Learning Oasis and Active Park with multiple outdoor areas, including a court, car park, pick-up and drop-off zone, and end-of-trip facilities.
Even though these hubs have their own educational focus, the design emphasizes unity by providing connections across all levels via expansive galleries and large open stairs.
These open up learning planes across buildings, positioning-related facilities together and creating integrated spaces across year levels.
The BVN design team envisioned this as a series of vertical city streets – networks that students navigate, across multiple choices, through galleries, and up and down stairs.
Ease of movement promotes autonomy, allowing students to decide their path – a shortcut to make it to a class on time, or a or slower meander through the campus.
Along these journeys, everything is transparent, offering glimpses into diverse learning environments and activities.
Different activities are in close proximity, stimulating interaction and connectivity, breaking down barriers between subjects, bringing groups together, and encouraging more interaction and opportunities.
Within the buildings, flexibility and collaboration have driven every design decision.
The Learning Hubs include general and specialized learning facilities for STEM(M) subjects, communication, humanities, and social sciences.
Groups of diverse spaces operate together rather than as independent classrooms to facilitate team and project-based learning.
These are open to circulation zones and divided by glass stackable walls enabling high visibility and participation.
Understanding the Indigenous Dutton Park habitat was a key aspect of the holistic nature of the BVN design.
The architectural language is derived from the Indigenous heritage of the site as a place of making, expressing the craft of net weaving and tool carving within the metalwork and concrete tectonics.
Key spaces within the school are angled towards special views, light, or aspect, connecting the school to its place and heritage.
Extensive native landscaping ties a wide variety of outdoor spaces together.
Sustainability permeates the design and educational philosophy of the school.
Solar power, water harvesting, natural ventilation, and low energy systems reduce impact.
Active transport facilities and connections to public transport provide the platform for an educational focus on a “sustainable world” through recycling facilities and systems throughout the school.
Brisbane State Secondary College is a campus designed for excellence in teaching and learning, engagement and collaboration, and connection to Country.
This BVN design has created a new school model for a new generation of learners with the project more akin to a university campus than a traditional high school.
Awards
The fledgling school was nominated in the Innovation in Curriculum Design category of the Australian Education Awards, which showcase top-performing schools, principals, department heads, and teachers.
The school’s Foundation Principal Ms. Kirsten Ferdinands is the former principal of Bray Park High School, which was named 2017’s State School of the year.
With her executive staff, Ms Ferdinands strengthened the school’s fledgling links with the University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, and the Brisbane Lions.
Under BSSSC’s enrolment management plan, 20 percent of students come from two selective-entry categories – biomedical studies and the Brisbane AFL Academy’s sports and nutrition studies.
However, 80 percent of students will study the standard Queensland curriculum, albeit at a brand-new campus that more closely resembles a university than a high school.
The project won The Educator, Innovative Schools 2020 Award.
Project Details
Project Completion – 2021
Project Team
Architecture
BVN
BVN is a creative collective of architects, designers, researchers, and makers.
The firm is Australian at heart but operates international studios and has a global outlook.
The BVN design and support team for the BSSSC project was extensive and included Mark Grimmer, Terry Braddock, Anna Berger, Vinay Bhat, Jared Bird, Ali Bounds, Terry Braddock, Scarlett Donovan, Damian Eckersley, Mark Grimmer, Scott Hardcastle, Nathan Harry, Zsolt Kiss, Abbie Lewis, Tersius Maass, Belinda McGrath, Ivan Tejada Navajas, Celeste Norman, Kevin O’Brien, Isabella Reynolds, Katrina Robinson, Amanda Robinson, Alfred La Spina, Rachel Wardrobe, Peter Webb, and Stuart Young.
Specialist Consultants
The consultant team that supported BVN included:
Adam Connors Design, Andrew Ladlay Architect, Bornhorst & Ward, Cambray Consulting, Trafflec, Dialogic Learning, Electro Technical Consulting, Hydraulic Testing and Certification, JFP Urban Consultants, Katestone Environmental, Philip Chun & Associates, S5 Environmental, SCLSPEC, Webb (Australia) Services, Windtech Consultants, Wood & Grieve Engineers, and WSP Australia.
Construction
Broad Construction
Broad was appointed as the building contractor to construct the Brisbane South State Secondary College project in early October 2019.
Photography
Jeff Gardner
Jeff is the Editor at Builtworks.com.au and is fascinated by how we use the built environment. He explores the man-altered landscape and makes a visual diary of the things he encounters, sharing some of it here.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge it.
Design © 2022 BVN. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2022 Jeff Gardner. All Rights Reserved.
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