The vertical campus turned outside in: Wurun Senior College

Published by
Jan Henderson
September 22, 2023

The winner of The Learning Space at the 2023 INDE.Awards has been named: Wurun Senior Campus by GHD Design and Grimshaw.

The winner of The Learning Space in the 2023 INDE.Awards is Wurun Senior Campus by GHD Design and Grimshaw. This is a project that changes lives through exemplary design. As partner of The Learning Space, Autex Acoustics is passionate about best practice and supports the wellbeing of educators and those learning in every scenario. Providing quality acoustic products that are sustainable, durable and beautiful, Autex Acoustics is a proud partner of the category and understands that making great design for education is our future.

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Commenting on Wurun Senior Campus, the 2023 INDE.Awards jury reflected, “Through expert planning and smart design, Wurun Senior Campus provides a sustainable vertical home for senior students that seamlessly integrates with its surroundings. While flexibility is key, the wellbeing of students is paramount and this project delivers on every level.”

As a new and highly sustainable vertical building, Wurun Senior Campus accommodates senior students from Collingwood College and Fitzroy High School in Victoria, Australia. It provides a flexible, tertiary level environment that fosters agency, choice and interdisciplinary learning.

The building form reimagines the multi-level commercial vernacular, stepping up to create a series of landscaped outdoor terraces. Each level is designed to accommodate a focused learning precinct which features a range of learning environments. Multi-purpose atria spaces at the campus heart provide flexible gathering options across the six levels.

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Read our comprehensive project review.

The project team consulted with and commissioned Wurundjeri people to inform and develop artworks, murals, interpretive work, the campus logo and provide input into Indigenous planting. Explore further here.

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Congratulations to GHD Design and Grimshaw for a wonderful project that contributes to the better health and wellbeing of students and staff. Making a difference to the way we live and learn supports the community, the city and every country within our Indo-Pacific region.

Missed the INDE.Awards gala or just want to relive the highlights? Simply follow this link and sit back and enjoy the only regional celebration of architecture and design excellence. 

Photography
Trevor Mein, Matthew Seebeck

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