St. Ignatius’ Therry Building
PMDL Architecture & Design, Austrailia
The Therry Learning Precinct represents a commendable investment in adaptive reuse of an existing facility — built to support contemporary learning practices and create an appropriate architectural expression for the campus as a model for future evolution.
Working closely with the College, key brief and organizational principles were established with a primary focus on Learning, Pastoral Care, and Teaching. The ambition to celebrate learning directed a need for connected and agile spaces that make learning visible. A variety of adaptable learning settings offer places for a range of learning modes, including learning outdoors. Places to call ‘home’ offer individual support, counselling, learning and socialisation. The staff observed that the largely transparent interiors and overall adaptability has increased levels of student engagement and participation.
The key ambition of Therry was to offer a building form with fresh attitude to inform the ongoing evolution of the college. It breaks away from the tradition of highly introspective learning spaces and explores a tailored series of architectural and urban responses. It offers a strong conversation with the main access loop road — offering clues to pedestrian journeys and, in a contemporary manner, employs the college logo as a fresh architectural artifact.
Each point of building entry offers a true sense of adventure with differing arrangements of space and volume whilst the overall porosity of the building enables participation with outdoor learning. A sense of classroom sanctuary remains but allows learning to spill into crafted landscaped courtyards, providing places for both reflection and engaging play.
Adaptive reuse of aging building infrastructure provides less physical interruption to the College’s day-to-day operations. The building supports the College by upholding their long-term strategy toward sustainable practices. These practices include an innovative use of mechanically assisted passive ventilation systems controlled by a central BMS, as well as a 500-panel solar array. A goal in expressing these innovations in the architecture is to become a part of student learning by providing real-life demonstrations of sustainable building innovations.
The Therry Learning Precinct is a truly unique transformation of an existing context giving rise to contemporary teaching practice and embodying new responsibilities in terms sustainable practice and creation of place. It offers a necessary model for the future evolution of the College and campus.
Originally appeared in Modus News 9
PMDL Architecture & Design
PMDL Architecture & Design is a dynamic and creative architecture and interior design team celebrated for the delivery of innovative and insightful design. With over 25 years of experience, PMDL has grown in both scale and reputation with a collective team comprised of over 70 team members across three studios (Sydney, Melbourne and Hong Kong). PMDL works together to deliver results that consistently surpass client expectations. By bridging the gap between their client’s vision and the project’s realization, their combined skills add value and opportunity at every step of the journey.
PMDL photograph and floor plan by PMDL. All other photographs by Brett Boardman