Re-imagining the form of learning spaces, St Francis Xavier College Berwick General Purpose Flexible Learning Area (GPFLA) is sustainable on every level. As part of a future vision, Bellemo & Cat has created a long-term master plan for the school and with Stage 1 now completed, and stage 2 and 2A under construction, St Francis Xavier College is ready for the next decades of educating our young.

“The Masterplan aims to create a thriving educational campus that will see the school community flourish through the next phase of its development, which will accommodate changes in pedagogy and expansion and development within the school community,” says Bellemo & Cat. “When completed, the campus will have a balance of open recreational spaces and specific learning precincts, one of the key strategies for the masterplan was to move the road bisecting the school grounds to the south boundary.”

For the GPFLA, the architects have combined 26 classrooms, a library and a range of learning environments within a single elongated structure. The concept prioritises environmental, financial and spatial efficiency.

The design draws on the organisational logic of a beehive, reflecting a pedagogical brief centred on non-hierarchical spaces without a defined “head of room.” Hexagonal classrooms allow for flexible configurations, supporting omni-directional teaching, interconnected spaces and a variety of breakout and informal learning areas.

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Bellemo & Cat has also integrated the library within the same structure. “The strategy to combine the library and all classrooms into one building ensures that what is often an underutilised space becomes circulation and open gathering space — creating a lively, activated hub with minimal additional cost in space and staffing,” says Bellemo & Cat.

As one of the largest mass timber educational buildings in the southern hemisphere, sustainability is central to the project. The design takes a comprehensive approach, addressing both embodied carbon and operational energy through material selection and building performance.

To enhance the biophilic qualities of the mass timber structure, exposed CLT slabs are retained throughout public areas, reducing the need for additional finishes such as plasterboard and paint. The timber structure evokes the idea of a “learning forest”, with knots and growth rings left visible. Other materials — from carpet to pinboards — were selected for their low embodied energy.

Passive design principles are also embedded in the building form, with broad north and south façades and carefully calibrated fenestration to manage thermal comfort and reduce energy use.

A defining element of the broader masterplan is the veranda, which links buildings across the campus. Here, it takes the form of a deep, zigzagging edge along the northern façade, providing shade to interiors and shelter for outdoor learning areas and locker bays. The motif continues on the southern façade, referencing the gabled rooflines of surrounding neighbourhood buildings while reinforcing a consistent architectural language.

Through a considered integration of pedagogy, sustainability and spatial planning, St Francis Xavier College Berwick GPFLA proposes a new model for educational environments — one that supports both flexibility in learning and long-term environmental performance.

Bellemo & Cat
bellemocat

Photography
Dianna Snape