GAINSBOROUGH  STATE  SCHOOL

Gainsborough State School is one of many greenfield primary and secondary schools being rolled out by the Queensland Government for the fast growing Gold Coast suburb of Pimpama. Chapman Leijenaar joined Open Architecture Studio as senior collaboration partner. 

​

The concept design for the school was prepared by Thelander architecture with Ridgemill project managers. FKG was the successful tenderer, and following the successful delivery of Foxwell State Secondary College, again invited OAS to serve as architect for the Design and Construct contract. OAS would be responsible for the detailed design development of the original design, implementing design changes, and value engineering the design.

The fenestration was completely redesigned, with proprietary shading devices and painted fibre cement cladding being replaced with purpose-designed perforated metal screens and metal sheet. This not only gave the school a very unique identity using a value engineered solution, but also ensured that ongoing maintenance would be significantly reduced. 

The master plan was improved by reassessing level changes, improving flow and accessibility and omitting unnecessary infrastructure. The layouts of every internal space was also assessed and reorganised wherever required for optimal functionality.  

The main entrance was redesigned, and its roof provided the signature element - an abstracted tree - to the school.       

​

Phase 1 consists of administration, media resource and indoor/outdoor sporting facilities, a canteen with industrial kitchen, as well as the preparatory  teaching block and maintenance sheds.      

Phase 2 will consist of a second teaching block, and an extension to the preparatory teaching block.