St Clare’s Learning Commons | Collins Pennington Architects

St Clare's Learning Commons | Collins Pennington Architects | Photographer: John Gollings

2023 National Architecture Awards Program

St Clare’s Learning Commons | Collins Pennington Architects

Traditional Land Owners

Ngunnawal people of the Ngunnawal Nation

Year
2023
Chapter

Australian Capital Territory

Category
Educational Architecture
Sustainable Architecture
Builder
Built
Photographer
John Gollings
Project summary

St. Clare’s College has taken student well-being as a priority with their new Learning Commons.

This learning and social hub is designed to create a calm and uplifting environment, with biophilic design elements that promote positive mental health and wellness. The building provides a variety of spaces that cater to different learning styles, including quiet areas for individual study and collaborative spaces for group work.

The Learning Commons unifies the existing 1960s campus and establishes itself as a central hub for the college community. The building’s facade features vertical sunshade fins to regulate sunlight and provide privacy, with an overall outcome that exceeds energy efficiency standards.

With student engagement and wellbeing at the heart of the design, the Learning Commons is an inspiring space for students to learn and grow.

ACT Jury Presentation

Project Practice Team

David Pennington, Design Architect and Senior Draftsperson
Shaun Bray, Senior Drafts Person

Project Consultant and Construction Team

John Rainari & Associates, Services Consultant
Northrop Consulting Engineers, Structural Engineer

Connect with Collins Pennington Architects
St Clare's Learning Commons | Collins Pennington Architects | Photographer: John Gollings

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