St Hilda’s Reeves Centre
Article by Burling Brown
The new Jennifer Reeves Building at St Hilda’s School, Southport opened in March 2015 and prior to its redevelopment was a three storey 1980’s brick classroom building.
Burling Brown Architects was engaged to successfully integrate and enhance the existing campus fabric and deliver adaptable flexible learning spaces.
The design challenges traditional teaching pedagogy as the upper levels included a library, collaborative learning areas and 14 glass walled classrooms which featured fold back acoustically treated clear glass doors allowing spaces to be modified to achieve the desired teach and interactive learning configurations.
The ground floor was turned into a generous refectory space with a modern cafeteria, stage and DJ facilities opening out to surrounding ovals, bushland and central school court and has since become a central gathering point for school social activities.
The Jennifer Reeves Building has been designed as an educational centre for the future and will be utilised for many years to come.