Purruna Spencer Newton Centre
Developed in conjunction with Hames Sharley, the Purruna Spencer Newton Centre; Scotch College’s new Wellbeing & Sports Centre is a state-of-the-art facility. The centre includes a gym, indoor pool, courts and wellness centre within a landscape embodying the school’s Living Well Program: sustainability, responsibility of resources, nutrition, healthy eating, physical education, mental health and wellbeing. The centre is utilised by the local residents and general public, as well as students and staff, generating economic benefits for the school as well as fostering healthy communities.
The centre is surrounded by resilient, climate-positive landscapes that have increased the site’s biodiversity and championed biophilic design and positive wellbeing outcomes of nature integrated with built form. A series of amphitheatre steps, terraces and a central lawn area create the heart of the centre, providing opportunities for outdoor learning, socialisation and larger school events. Views across to Adelaide were championed from both within and outside of the built form, fostering a connection to place and connection to Country.
Collaboration with Paul Hertzig and his sharing of Kaurna plant knowledge, facilitated further cultural connections and enabled a significant proportion of new plants to be referenced for food, medicinal, art and cultural uses.
The existing avenue of significant Eucalypts and heritage Olive hedge to Blythewood Rd were retained and protected, with a new vehicular entrance point, car parks and a sense of arrival carefully integrated in and around these important assets. A new pedestrian access was created through the heritage gates, connecting the new facility to the surrounding neighbourhood.
Similar projects: Pembroke Middle School, Golden Grove High School, Hamilton Secondary College, Concordia College & St John’s Campus