New Schools 2021 – Cranbourne West Secondary College

Cranbourne West Secondary College for year 7-12 students has an inclusion hub that is designed to support a higher number of students with developmental or physical requirements than a typical mainstream school. The school buildings and its grounds have been imagined as a community heart that is inviting and engaging, with emphasis on nature-inspired learning.

Intensive learning spaces are provided in the visual arts and science + technology buildings with zones for practical activities and theory, and a range of collaborative spaces to enable cross disciplinary connections and the curated display of student work and resources. The community hub has learning spaces for food technology and the performing arts, each with strong connections to the outdoors, including a performance area and productive gardens. These spaces, along with a generous gallery foyer and the sports hall provide the school with a venue for large gatherings and performances.

Location: Boonwurrung Country
Cranbourne West, Victoria
Client: Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA)
Scale: $53.5M
Year: 2021
Collaborators: Brand Architects
Project Contact: Christon Smith and Adrian Doohan
Photography: Dianna Snape
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From master planning through to detailed learning settings, we worked with VSBA’s New Schools team to design facilities that meet the needs of contemporary learners, teachers and pedagogies.
Christon Smith
Director, DesignInc Melbourne

Cranbourne West Secondary College will accommodate 1,100 students long term enrolment and 1,200 students peak enrolment. It is one of seven new schools that we delivered in collaboration with Brand Architects in the space of two years (from brief to delivery) to meet the deadlines for the VSBA New Schools 2021 program: