The Infinity Centre, Melbourne Education Building, Victoria School Development, Australia Architecture

The Infinity Centre, Melbourne

Australian School Building – design by McBride Charles Ryan (MCR)

22 Apr 2013

Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Building

Design: McBride Charles Ryan (MCR)

Keilor East, Melbourne, Australia

photo : John Gollings

Infinity Centre – PEGS

The Infinity Centre, the new campus for Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School senior students, is derived from the initial idea that the library, a learning hub, is central to the school. We also wanted a building that offered protection from a windswept site and signified the merging of two schools, Penleigh Presbyterian Ladies’ College and Essendon Grammar School for boys.

photo : John Gollings

The idea of infinite learning became the mantra. Radiating out from the library, along the length of the form, are specialist precincts and a variety of learning spaces. Each wing then returns to link up, forming cloisters and the resulting plan of an infinity symbol. Being structured around two protected courtyards has enhanced the learning space’s access to light, ventilation and view.

photo : Peter Bennetts

Each wing has its own qualities, different from each other and yet seamlessly connected to the next. In this way the building acts as an embodiment of the journey of education, with less distinction of any prescribed boundaries between disciplines.

photo : Peter Bennetts

The colour strategy reinforces the identity of the academic disciplines, universally enhanced by the richness of natural materials, such as locally recycled timber. Planning allows the building’s circulation to constantly return to the library at its heart, and in this way is physically and experientially in parallel with the educational ethos of the school.

photos : John Gollings

This variety of spaces and volumes, not dissimilar to a walled citadel with its gardens and ceremonial arches, are encased within a unifying skin. The outer wall of the building is clad with glazed bricks, a material that offers protection, beauty, gravitas, and imbues the impressive form with a sense of permanence.

photos : John Gollings

The banded brickwork pattern aids in reading the shape of the building, adding complexity and delight as the sun catches the silver through the day.

photos : John Gollings

Project team: Rob McBride, Debbie Ryan, Andrew Hayne, Drew Williamson, Qianyi Lim, Peter Ryan, Stephan Bekhor, Anthony Parker, Amelia Borg, Natasha Maben, Benedikt Josef, Alan Ting, Luke Waldron, Jacqui Robbins, Daniel Griffin, Seung Hyuk Choi, Angela Woda

Area: 8000 m2

photos : Peter Bennetts

The Infinity Centre images / information received from McBride Charles Ryan

McBride Charles Ryan

Location: Keilor East, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Architecture in Melbourne

Melbourne Architecture Designs – chronological list

Melbourne Architectural News

Melbourne Architecture Walking Tours

Melbourne Architecture

Melbourne Architect Offices – design studio listings

School Buildings

New Arthur Phillip High School and Parramatta Public School Building, NSW, Australia
Design: Grimshaw Architects / BVN

image courtesy Grimshaw
New High-rise Public School Building in Australia