Adelaide Botanic High School

South Australia’s first vertical school was designed in partnership with Cox Architecture. An active atrium provides a central community heart linking the repurposed Reid Building to create a multidisciplinary learning environment that allows a high degree of visual and physical connectivity between floors.

Adelaide Botanic High School locates a contemporary vertical school for 1,250 students in a beautiful parkland setting, combining science and nature in a connected learning environment. The site is part of an established education and cultural precinct, adjacent to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and Botanic Park.

Awards

2020 Commendation, New Construction / Entire New Educational Facility, Learning Environments Australasia
2020 Shortlist Public Design, Australian Interior Design Awards
2019 Dr John Mayfield Award for Educational Architecture, Australian Institute of Architects (SA)
2019 Robert Dickson Award for Interior Architecture, Australian Institute of Architects (SA)
2019 Derrick Kendrick Award for Sustainable Architecture, Australian Institute of Architects (SA)
2019 Excellence in a Commercial / Industrial Building $50m to $100m, Master Builders Association (SA)
2019 New Construction / Entire New Educational Facility, Learning Environments (SA/NT)
2019 Overall Winner, Learning Environments (SA/NT)
2019 Gold Award, Built Environment Education, Design Institute of Australia (SA/NT) Awards

Location: Kaurna Country
Adelaide, South Australia
Client: DfE, DIT
Value: $100M
Scale: 15,120m²
Year: 2019
Collaborators: Cox Architecture
Project Contact: Sonya Montgomerie
Photography: Sam Noonan
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Functions within the building are stacked, with public spaces (such as reception, gallery, library, cafe, gymnasium and performing arts centre) close to ground level and the more private learning spaces on upper levels. In addition to flexible general learning and collaboration areas, this benchmark STEM focused school offers specialised facilities including maker spaces, laboratories and VET training kitchen.

The project features a number of sustainability measures to achieve a 5 Star Green Star Rating, including the external shading fins and the responsive ETFE roof to regulate internal temperatures.

This project is a community asset of lasting value – not just because of its sustainability credentials but also because it provides an example of how this State can provide state of the art educational facilities with outstanding flexibility and adaptability. Tony Giannone, President, Australian Institute of Architects SA Chapter
Tony Giannone, President
Australian Institute of Architects SA Chapter