New Schools 2024 – Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College

Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College is a new learning facility that has been purposefully designed to adapt and flex to meet the evolving needs of contemporary learners, teachers and pedagogies.

The following education principles guided our design decisions at all planning levels: collaboration, building connections, authentic learning experiences, and adaptability.

Location: Wadawurrung Country
Werribee, Victoria
Client: VSBA
Value: Stage 1 $39M + Stage 2 $16M
Scale: 25.3 Ha
Year: 2024
Collaborators: Brand Architects
Project Contact: Christon Smith
Photography: Dianna Snape
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We organised the college as a home base, community and neighbourhood model. The Learning Neighbourhood building is complemented by the Design, Arts and Technology building providing structured learning spaces for practical activities and theory and a range of collaborative spaces that enable cross-disciplinary connections and display of student work.

The school Community Hub building has additional resource-intensive learning spaces for media studies and performing arts, together with a generous gallery foyer and sports hall suitable for large gatherings and performances.

Using biophilic design, the school is intrinsically connected to nature, with the landscape a vital element of the education experience. Outdoor areas facilitate indoor / outdoor teaching and learning practices, play, and social interaction whilst providing attractive green views from indoors. Flora and fauna selections that acknowledge associations with First Nations peoples are entwined in the design.