Cannon Hill Anglican College – Science Centre

The Cannon Hill Anglican College Science Centre consisted of the construction of 4 science laboratories, 2 preparation rooms, 2 EEI rooms, staff room and offices, outdoor learning area, lift, stairs and verandas.

Project Details

Architects
PW Architecture

Address
Junction Road, Cannon Hill, Qld 4170 Australia

Submitter
PW Architecture

Cost
$3,591,000

Photographer
Jason Walters

Project Overview

The Cannon Hill Anglican College Science Centre was designed as a purpose-built and technologically-advanced Science Centre to facilitate the college’s future-focused approach to teaching and learning, enabled by new technologies. The design and resourcing of the labs will ensure that the Science Centre meets not only the needs of the college’s current students, but also of those that will use the facility in years to come – particularly when it comes to technological innovation.

The science centre was designed for students studying Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and Junior Science. The Centre will be the embodiment of the college’s commitment to Next Practice – ‘A future-focussed approach to teaching and learning, enabled by new technologies’.

Featuring four purpose-built and technologically-advanced laboratories, to complement the existing facilities, staff and students will benefit from ease of access to specialist equipment in specialist labs. The spacious and flexible learning spaces will facilitate a higher level of practical engagement in investigations and extended research tasks. The flexible learning spaces were achieved through the use of mobile lab benches. Each lab has a fixed perimeter bench and 10 mobile benches which can be arranged in numerous layouts as required. A dedicated courtyard for outdoor learning has also been integrated into the Science Centre.

The most exciting development will be the integration of top-end technology into the labs. The advanced IT will facilitate innovative teaching and group-work capabilities and will complement and enhance the students’ use of their individual tablet computers. Interactive data projectors, which can project touch-responsive images onto any surface from floors to benches to walls, and LCD flat screens with built-in computers, are just some of the technological tools under consideration.

The science centre not only incorporates green / renewable energy generation technology into the building but also makes is visual as a learning medium for the students. This was achieved through semi-transparent solar panels built within the roof structure which are visible from the entry, and also a wind turbine.