FOXWELL STATE SECONDARY COLLEGE

Foxwell State Secondary College is one of many greenfield primary and secondary schools being rolled out by the Queensland Government for the fast growing Gold Coast suburb of Coomera. Chapman Leijenaar joined Open Architecture Studio as senior collaboration partner for both Phase 1 and Phase 2. 

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The concept design for the school was prepared by Thelander architecture with Ridgemill project managers. FKG was the successful tenderer for both phases and invited OAS to serve as architect for the Design and Construct contract. OAS would be responsible for the detailed design development of the base design, implementing design changes, and value engineer the design.

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The campus was significantly redesigned, with changes included the repositioning of the sports oval, the mirroring of the junior learning block and the complete redesign of the multi-purpose hall. Building and negative space levels were also significantly altered in order to improve accessibility and eliminate a number of lifts and stairs. The fenestration too was redesigned as part of an extensive value engineering exercise. Proprietary shading devices and painted fibre cement cladding was replaced with purpose-designed perforated metal screens and pre-treated FC cladding. This not only gave the school a very unique identity, but also ensured that ongoing maintenance would be significantly reduced. 

 

The layouts of every space were assessed with the newly appointed principal and her leadership team and reorganised wherever required for optimal functionality.    

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At its completion, Foxwell Stage 1 was considered its benchmark secondary school by the Department of Education. 

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Phase 1 consists of administration, media resource and indoor/outdoor sporting facilities, a canteen with industrial kitchen, as well as the junior learning teaching block and maintenance sheds. The junior learning block includes general classrooms, teaching kitchens, workshops, laboratories, dance studios and a lecture theatre.     

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The construction of Phase 2, which consists of the senior learning precinct, was carefully coordinated in order to be ready to receive the progressing establishment student group.