A project managed by the Department of Finance for the Department of Education has won two Institute of Australian Architects (WA) Awards.
Additions to the City Beach Residential College in Perth won an Educational Architecture Award, and a commendation in the Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture for Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
The new building is a multi-purpose facility comprising administration, recreation and study spaces, a kitchen and dining room, toilets, laundry and external landscaping.
The Residential College houses regional students attending six Perth high schools with gifted and talented programs.
The $6.4 million building was built by Firm Construction. The contract was awarded in December 2017 and the building delivered in January 2019, in time for the start of the 2019 educational year.
In a statement, the Department of Finance said the building preserved, wrapped around and looked out onto a large ficus tree, with a façade featuring curved metal ‘silos’ reminiscent of the regions.
“Constructed of concrete blockwork and steel on a sloping site, the northern end of the building is semi-embedded in the ground for security, privacy and protection while the southern end cantilevers out and captures city and ocean views,” the Department said.
“Materials were selected for durability and maintenance minimisation.”
It said internal spaces used comfortable and welcoming curves and curved pods for the regional students far from home, with plywood for warmth and geometric wall painting for interest.
“Portions of the site are Aboriginal heritage zones and building started after consultation and agreement with Aboriginal representative groups, and an Aboriginal heritage survey, and was completed with monitoring by the Whadjuk Native Title Claim group,” the Department said.
