ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE MASTERPLAN: 7 YEARS ON
We first started working with St Patrick’s College in 2017, when they approached us to develop a 5-10 year masterplan for their campus. From the start, our shared goal was to better utilise their buildings and their footprint, and in doing so, create exceptional, forward-thinking spaces that could accommodate their increased student population. Now 7 years and multiple completed projects later, we wanted to share what’s worked well for St Patrick’s, and how we’re planning for their next phase as a school.
Every school leader understands that they are stewards of their campus: in most cases, the school was there before they arrived, and will continue for many decades to come - and their role is to make decisions that will yield lasting positive change.
This was the mindset embraced by the St Patrick’s team from the beginning of their masterplan journey. The school’s student population had grown, and with this growth came the realization that changes needed to be made to the campus. This initial masterplan was all about maximising their budget, reimagining what could be achieved within their campus footprint, and finding ways to provide thoughtful, enjoyable, cutting-edge learning environments for their staff and students.
From our initial workshops, a series of priority projects emerged: renovations and new buildings that would alleviate pain points, improve the day-to-day experience for students and staff, and fall within reach of the funds available at the time. These projects included:
Increased student numbers had made lunchtimes difficult – the canteen was tucked away and suffered unmanageable queues even after the school implemented staggered lunchtimes. Commandeering a previously underutilised space, the new cafe features updated kitchen facilities, generous space for queuing and a large covered deck, and as a result, it’s provided benefits beyond streamlining tuckshop operations.
In its position at the heart of the school, the covered deck has also become a central hub: with tables and chairs for eating, integrated tiered seating facing the handball courts, and easy connections to nearby thoroughfares, it fosters intuitive gathering and interaction around lunchtimes.
In order to maximise available space along the campus border, we needed a building that could welcome visitors from the Pier Avenue entry, as well as present an attractive frontage to the street.
The new Student Office & Wellness Centre provides tailored wellness facilities and services in addition to a reception and student services area. Its red brick facade echoes the traditional school buildings and combined with a timeless, approachable design, serves as a polished public-facing presence for the school.
Unfolding in multiple stages, refurbishment of the O’Connor Building introduced enhanced classroom, breakout and lunchtime spaces to the campus.
A covered deck was added to the building, which overlooks the oval and connects easily into the interior classrooms. It serves as an intuitive gathering space during break times, and connects easily through to the learning areas inside. These classroom spaces now benefit from increased natural light and ventilation, and have also been refurbished to generate more flexibility and collaboration for learning.
In combination with a series of other interventions, the delivery of these projects has seen the St Patrick’s campus evolve to become more efficient, enjoyable and enriching for everyone. For us at Elevation, it’s a privilege to walk alongside a client throughout a long-term journey like this: understanding their needs, crafting solutions and seeing them brought to life is very rewarding.
With their new and improved buildings, and all the changes that come with the passing of seven years (including a pandemic), the school’s needs and priorities have evolved, too – and it’s now time to revisit the masterplan. We're currently in the process of collaborating with the leadership team, teaching staff and wider community to produce a reimagined masterplan, and help St Patrick's to design their next chapter.