St Johns College Boarding Facility

In September 2010, Hodgkison was engaged by St Johns College to develop a unique facility to cater to the growing demand for student boarding in the Northern Territory. Hodgkison provided the Architectural and Project Management services for a new 36 bed student boarding facility in two separate family style pods on the Junior campus at St John’s College in Darwin. Each facility includes administration, lounge, dining, recreation area, student bedrooms, amenities, laundry area and accommodation for the house parent consisting of sleeping, living, kitchen and private enclosed external area.

The Architects used the ‘explosive energy of students’ as a design catalyst to create dynamic, positive, open spaces that enhance learning and allow for engagement and interaction. The ‘explosion’ can be evidenced throughout the architecture including the shards of steel and glass that make up the front façade. The functionality of the pod was set out depicting large open spaces flanked by bedrooms and utilities which created a distinct V shape allowing spaces to extend and open up outward toward the beauty that is the Botanical Gardens thereby engaging the environment and creating a family environment, a home away from home.

A separate courtyard was introduced for the exclusive use of the students. They are able to shape the use of this “living room”, allowing opportunities for students in each pod to bond and make life long friendships. This multipurpose space can be adapted to cater to the specific needs of the students in each pod, allowing for a multitude of activities such as sport, movies and other learning activities. Passive sustainable principles were employed to reduce the carbon footprint of the building including good solar orientation, large over hangs and window shading, low-e glass, cross-flow ventilation and an open courtyard to capture breezes.

The facility supports the anticipated increase in student enrolment at St John’s College Darwin whilst providing onsite boarding for students from surrounding suburbs and regional communities.

The outcome has been embraced by the school and the broader community.