Our Australian cities are becoming denser and more populated than ever before, however within this challenge a new wave of thinking is sweeping our cities. There is a genuine commitment to create communities which cater for a diverse range of cultures, ethnicity, family structures and ages.
Education plays a vital role in the fabric of a city. Allowing students to live, learn and breath the structures of a city will not only allow students direct access to the cultural offerings, but provide students in-depth understanding of the inner city workings and functions converting this knowledge into more efficient, connected and socially sensitive cities for the future.
Gallagher Jeffs was selected to lead the project team from concept design through to delivery. The design team in consultation with a variety of teachers and stakeholders, have cleverly re-developed an existing commercial building into what will be one of Melbourne's first vertical schools, centrally located at 383 King St, West Melbourne.
Haileybury boasts a proud history that dates back to 1892, and is an independent school providing a dynamic co-educational learning environment for students from ELC to Year 12.
The vertical school (expected to cater to up to 800 students) is an alternative option for parents working in the city and/or students living in inner city locations. Haileybury’s unparalleled proximity to Melbourne’s finest cultural institutions and sporting facilities enables students to benefit from a real world approach to learning.
Included in this 13,000sqm state of the art building will be:
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1,500sqm outdoor green recreation space on the terrace of the building
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1,000sqm indoor recreation centre
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2,000sqm contemporary arts facility (Inc. music, drama, art)
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Custom built state of the art science facilities
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Ample underground bike parking and drop-off amenities
The expected full completion date is late 2018 with the Early Learning Centre already operating and other key openings staged over the next two years.
This is now Gallagher Jeffs seventh project for the school, spanning a 15 year association with Haileybury, the CBD campus proving to be one of the most exciting.