Designed by Cox Architecture, the redevelopment of Murray Bridge High School (MBHS) set out to improve, inspire, and shape the students and community alike.
COX was able to establish a link between functionality and creativity, whilst supporting MBHS’s journey towards a modern pedagogy.
The redevelopment was designed with intent and inclusivity and achieves a sense of connectedness between all students, allowing them to explore and interact.
The school is directly visible upon entry into town from Swanport Road, so creating a streetscape that not only embodied the town’s essence but complemented the existing features, was carefully considered and achieved through engagement with the community and stakeholders.
The interior built form was inspired by the River Murray and its power in shaping the town and land around it.
The river’s escarpments, perches, and edges inspired formal and tactile design decisions whilst internal features and material choices were derived from the interaction between earth and water along the river’s edge; the striations and forms which are created.
The central plaza and atrium are located at a key circulation node on the site, which allows all students to benefit from the space and encourages interaction across the entire cohort.
This sense of shared ownership and responsibility to the student’s environment was core to the brief, design ethos, and the school’s ongoing culture.
Due to the challenging climatic conditions of Murray Bridge, design elements were incorporated to enable the use of the facilities year-round.
The building predominately faces north-south for passive sun control while east-west extents are positioned to utilise the shade from existing trees.
The use of natural and sustainable materials was a key consideration, leading to the use of cork as flooring and internal linings.
COX worked closely with the client, user groups, and stakeholders to deliver a conscientious project.
With a large aboriginal community, consultation with the Ngarrindjeri people ensured a connection to land whilst their involvement informed design elements throughout the project.
Through meticulous detail and planning, COX was able to work with the client and contractor to deliver this project on time and on budget, whilst adhering to the brief and ensuring exceptional outcomes.
Project Details
Client – Department for Education South Australia
Construction Cost – $18M
Site Area – 6,548 m2
Completion Date – 2021
Project Team
Architecture
Cox Architecture
COX is a design-focused contemporary architectural practice with studios located in every major Australian city and a history spanning 60 years.
The key to their ethos is supporting the public life of our cities. Cox does this by ensuring each project makes positive contributions to its public realm – giving more than it takes.
Key Consultants
CPR, Lucid, Outer Space, Sonus, Tecon, Stantec
Construction
Sarah Constructions
Sarah Constructions is a leading Adelaide commercial builder.
Photography
Tom Roschi
Tom is an Adelaide-based commercial photographer with 30 years of experience.
Photo Gallery
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Design © 2022 Cox Architecture. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2022 Tom Roschi. All Rights Reserved.
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