A New Architectural Identity for STEAM Education
Commissioned by the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), the Foxford Innovation Centre at St Columba’s College is a striking architectural addition to the school’s historic campus. Designed as a contemporary landmark, this state-of-the-art STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) facility not only enhances educational opportunities but also establishes a bold civic presence on a prominent corner site. The new building completes the school’s interface with the Buckley Street providing an end point to the campus and new point of identity for the College. Accommodating 200 of the school’s 1,500 students, the centre exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to learning through both its architectural expression and spatial planning. Collocation and collaboration were key in the design and adjacencies for the teaching spaces with an emphasis placed on visibility between disciplines.
A Design Responsive to Client Vision
The design of the Foxford Innovation Centre is the result of a highly collaborative process, ensuring that the project is not only architecturally striking but also functionally aligned with the college’s pedagogical aspirations for specialist learning spaces. Extensive stakeholder consultation with school leadership, educators, and students informed key design decisions, creating a building that is deeply responsive to the current needs of its users with flexibility for future growth to respond to the evolving pedagogy. The result is a flexible, future-proofed facility that fosters collaboration, critical thinking, and hands-on learning within an inspiring environment, having both dedicated learning environments next to agile breakout spaces which are able to be programmed by multiple users.
Sculptural Form and Materiality
Defined by a rhythm of precast concrete panels with gentle concave forms, the Foxford Innovation Centre presents a sculptural and tactile presence. The three-level facility, including basement parking, spans approximately 1,500 square metres across two upper levels. Its architectural language is one of transparency and connectivity, reinforcing the interdisciplinary nature of STEAM education. Key design elements include:
- Expansive glass-walled laboratories and classrooms, creating a seamless visual connection between learning spaces and agile breakout spaces
- An interwoven network of flexible learning environments, allowing pedagogical adaptability
- A central atrium with tiered auditorium-style seating, which also functions as a sculptural staircase, fostering interaction and informal learning moments and large group assembly.
In response to the existing campus’ material palette, the Foxford Innovation Centre continues the warm linseed-hued aesthetic while introducing a refined and contemporary architectural expression. The built form relies on sculptural elements for its individual identity that sits within a campus family of buildings. With limited outdoor space available, the design maximises opportunities for engagement with the external environment. A café and sheltered terrace, framed by an elegant enfilade of arched columns, provides a protected outdoor learning and social space, while perforated metal screens modulate natural light and lend an abstract quality to the façade.
A Spatial Framework for Evolving Pedagogies
The Foxford Innovation Centre is conceived as an adaptive framework, responding to contemporary pedagogical strategies that emphasise inquiry-based and student-led learning. Spatial fluidity underpins the design, allowing for seamless transitions between structured lessons, collaborative projects, and independent exploration. Key spatial strategies include:
- Modular and reconfigurable spaces, enabling interdisciplinary engagement
- State-of-the-art digital infrastructure, embedding technology into everyday learning
- Purpose-designed breakout zones, fostering self-directed study and peer collaboration
- Acoustically engineered environments, ensuring optimal focus and reducing sound transmission between adjacent spaces
While grounded in the historic fabric of St Columba’s College, the centre’s contemporary architectural language signals a progressive educational vision. The interplay of robust materials, transparent surfaces, and flexible spatial configurations reflects the evolving role of architecture in shaping dynamic and responsive learning environments.
Programmatic Organisation and Specialist Learning Zones
The Foxford Innovation Centre is a finely tuned educational ecosystem, housing a diverse range of specialist spaces tailored to STEAM disciplines. These include:
- Junior and Senior Food Technology Kitchens, designed for both theoretical and practical instruction suitable for VET Learning
- Flexible Food Tech Learning Studios, fostering collaborative culinary experimentation
- Maker Spaces, equipped for hands-on innovation and prototyping undertaken in an industrial style
- Textiles and Ceramics Studios, blending traditional craft with digital fabrication
- Digital Design and Photography Suites, supporting contemporary media production
- General Arts Classrooms, enriched with natural light for creative exploration
- General Science Laboratories, configured for multidisciplinary use
- Specialist Chemistry, Biology, and Physics Labs, tailored for advanced scientific inquiry
- A Dedicated Science Preparation Room, enhancing operational efficiency
- A Canteen Kitchen and Food Storage Facility, providing commercial-grade amenities
- A Competition-Grade Sports Court, integrated into the broader campus landscape
Each space is anchored by agile breakout areas, fostering informal learning encounters and reinforcing a holistic educational experience. The interplay between interior and exterior spaces enhances spatial legibility, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user experience.
A Collaborative Approach: Working Together for Success
The Foxford Innovation Centre is the result of a highly successful working partnership between St Columba’s College, LiFE Architecture, consultants, and Building Engineering, the construction company responsible for delivering the project to the highest standards. Through close collaboration, the project team navigated the complexities of integrating cutting-edge learning environments within a heritage-informed campus, ensuring that the final outcome aligns seamlessly with the school’s educational goals.
Regular consultation with stakeholders allowed for an iterative design process, refining key elements to enhance both functionality and architectural expression. The construction phase was marked by a commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability, ensuring that the Foxford Innovation Centre will serve as an inspiring educational space for generations to come.
Architectural Legacy and Future Trajectory
With the completion of the Foxford Innovation Centre, St Columba’s College asserts its position at the forefront of contemporary education. This project encapsulates LiFE Architecture’s commitment to crafting architecturally rich, pedagogically responsive, and future-focused learning environments. By synthesising materiality, form, and spatial innovation, the centre not only reflects the ethos of STEAM education but also inspires future generations of students and educators alike.
