Scotch College Adelaide’s Purruna Spencer Newton Centre, designed by Hames Sharley, has been awarded the Dr John Mayfield Award for Educational Architecture and an award for Sustainable Architecture.
Hames Sharley, in conjunction with Scotch College, developed a very strong vision for the Centre – aspiring to ‘replace the old with the bold’ and seizing the opportunity to make a real connection between students, families and the broader community through the platform of wellbeing.
The Dr John Mayfield Award for Educational Architecture
An unassuming elevation to Blythewood Road, largely concealed behind an existing olive hedge, belies the conceptual and technical skill demonstrated in the Purruna Spencer Newton Centre at Scotch College.
The Hames Sharley team has skilfully considered a topographically and contextually challenging site. The design respects the residential interface to the south, while celebrating the relationship to the established College to the north. It also relates to the College’s adjacent ‘farm’ and embraces views of the Adelaide CBD. The terraced landscape along the northern boundary ties the building to its environment, while the generous internal atrium, materials and detailing further enhance the connection to nature.
The achievements of the Purruna Spencer Newton Centre extend beyond the physical. The architects are to be applauded on their commitment to embedding First Nations consultation and principles within the design. They have also demonstrated a commitment to attaining a level of sustainability that sets a new benchmark for projects of this type.
This is not a building that shouts out its achievements. It confidently exemplifies the many ways in which architecture, at its best, can cater for the well-being of its users, the wider community, and the environment.
Award for Sustainable Architecture
The architecture of the Purruna Spencer Newton Centre provides a haven for students and welcomes the community. Learning spaces connect to a wellness facility via a central amphitheatre/stair, creating an engaging and interactive setting.
Plants are employed to shade the building and promoting wellness. Early consultation with local Kaurna knowledge-holders was sought to provide advice on naming and to reference the surrounding flora and fauna.
Materials feel classic and calm and were selected with attention to their environmental impact and anticipated design life. The combination of a solar system, high efficiency, double-glazing, and all-electric building services minimises the project’s carbon footprint.
Designed to allow community use of the pool and fitness centre outside of school hours, the Centre also provides a potential refuge for future climate conditions. It embraces the principles of regeneration, embedding the philosophy that a building can improve the environment and community, rather than simply consuming resources.
Learn more about the Awards, and the project at AIA (architecture.com.au).
