Balwyn High School Art and Design Building

Three-storey building with two linear wings separated by full-height Atrium.

Floorplates were designed for flexibility with limited walls and rooms divided by moveable display/storage units.

Building comprises Art 3D, Design and Robotics studios on Lower Level, general classrooms on Middle Level, Art 2D, Visual Communication and Fashion studios on Upper Level.

Project Details

Architects
Architectus Melbourne

Address
Buchanan Ave Balwyn North, Victoria 3104 Australia

Submitter
Matt Spinaze

Cost
$9million

Photographer
Ian Davidson

Project Overview

The final stage of Government funded works at Balwyn High School, the project provides a new enlarged Art and Design building, comprising art studios and general purpose classrooms, over three storeys.

The building was planned as two linear wings, each running east-west, creating two edge conditions: a northern edge that fronted and connected to the existing adjacent buildings and a southern edge that subtly curves, in acknowledgement of the oval. The two wings are connected vertically through an atrium, by open stairs and bridge links.

The lower level, on the same level as the previous basketball courts, contains Media and Theatre spaces with student and staff amenities (in the north wing) and Robotics, Design, Art 3D and Ceramics studios (in the south wing). There is direct external access for outdoor class activities.

The middle level contains general purpose classrooms in both wings. It links via a bridge to the canteen at the ground level of the Science Building (E Wing).

The upper level contains studios – for Fashion and Senior Art 2D in the north wing and Visual Communications and junior Art 2D in the south wing – supported by staff work areas, computer areas and a traditional dark room.

Floorplates were designed for maximum flexibility, using a concrete structural system of columns and flat slabs; with all major services infrastructure at each end. Rooms were divided using moveable storage/display units to allow for reconfiguration.

External materials were selected to reduce ongoing maintenance costs. A preference for prefinished materials and provision of a robust environment were key determining factors.

The lower level is finished in flush glazing, in a random pattern of transparent and white opaque glass; glazing is bookended by precast concrete panels around the plant rooms at the end of each wing.

The middle and upper levels were originally intended to be wrapped in a random, rectangular pattern of concealed fix, prefinished fibre cement panels, coloured in a variety of yellows and greens. This material was changed to decorative coloured glass during the construction phase.

The colours of the external façade were drawn from the adjacent landscape – an existing spotted gum to the north, the grassy oval and the hues of Macleay Park to the south.