2024 Winner — New Campus with Educational Facilities
2023 Winner — New Educational Campus
2023 Winner — Best School Project Above $10 Million
2023 Winner — Learning Space of the Year
2023 Winner — Educational Architecture
2023 Winner — Best of State Commercial Design (VIC)
2023 Commendation — Public Design
2023 Shortlisted — Education & Research
2023 Shortlisted — Educational Architecture
2023 Shortlisted — The Learning Space
CHES is Australia’s first secondary school offering specialist academic programmes in ‘hy-flex’ learning environments. It delivers VCE extension and university-level subjects to high-ability students from government schools across the state.
The site is tightly constrained by surrounding buildings on all sides, with frontage on a busy tram and car corridor. A large central atrium, covered with a semi-transparent inflatable roof, addresses these limitations by drawing natural light, fresh air and open sky views into the heart of the school. These qualities directly support learning outcomes across all levels of the building.
Four learning neighbourhoods sit on either side of the atrium on levels one and two. This arrangement was developed in collaboration with Dr Ben Cleveland, Associate Professor in Learning Environments and Co-Director of LEaRN at the Melbourne School of Design. Each neighbourhood includes large-group classrooms, specialist laboratories, small-group tutorial spaces, breakout social areas and quiet study nooks.
The variety of spaces supports an evolving curriculum while maintaining cohesive communities for students and teachers. Technology is integrated into every teaching space to enable ‘hy-flex’ learning, giving students a consistent experience whether they attend in person, online or on their own schedule. The top floor provides student and staff breakout spaces and a social rooftop terrace.
The structure combines exposed timber beams with concrete columns and precast floor slabs, reducing concrete use by 30% compared to an all-concrete system.
Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES),
South Yarra
A vertical urban school in the heart of Melbourne, designed in partnership with Brand Architects for the Victorian School Building Authority.
“The centre feels like a tertiary environment. The moment visitor’s walk through the door, their eyes tend to light up as they take in the impressive design. The quality of the materials, colour schemes, attention to detail, effective use of spaces, and the lush internal and external landscaping are second to none.”
— Stewart Milner, Foundation Principal, Centre for Higher Education Studies
Four learning neighbourhoods sit on either side of the atrium on levels one and two. Each neighbourhood includes large-group classrooms, specialist laboratories, small-group tutorial spaces, breakout social areas and quiet study nooks.
