Mary Mackillop Amphitheatre and Landscape Courtyard

The courtyard design is broken into three zones:

The Amphitheatre is a space for learning and performance. The original briefing requirement for this area was a large disabled ramp linking the upper level of the hall with the music and drama rooms underneath. Unhappy with the notion that all this space would be wasted for use other than travel, it was proposed to snake the ramp back and forth down the hill, filling the holes in between with tiers of sit-able steps. The result is a functioning amphitheatre that still provides disabled access. In addition, a raised path encircles the steps to add a theatrical dimension (allowing the portrayal of a Shakespearian balcony scene for example), and a large tent-like roof structure, echoing Melbourne ‘s Music Bowl, arcs over the stage to protect it from the elements.

The Plaza is a space for socialising: Situated at the centre of the school, this plaza has ample seating opportunities for students. New trees planted there will continue to grow, eventually forming a shady canopy over the space. This space flows into the under-crofts and classrooms of the surrounding buildings. Here students can eat, learn and play together.

The Square is a space for assembly: At the top of the hill, the final space is a formal square, loosely based on St Peter ‘s Square in Rome. Here, a colonnade of trees stand in for stone columns and a soon-to-be-added statue of Mary rather than obelisk will form the central focal point. An axis from this pivot links the square, through the school entry, to the striking frontage of the Corpus Christi church sixty meters to the west.