Project Details

The Challenge

Shenton College was created to combine two former state schools in Perth's western suburbs, an area that has become a desirable place to live over the last decade. Several private schools have long been established and enrolments in Hollywood and Swanbourne Senior High Schools were declining. So one of the key objectives was to create a new state school with a distinct identity, which would compare favourably with private schools. Another was that the design of Shenton College had to respond to the new WA high school curriculum with its emphasis on flexibility, outcomes-based and multidisciplinary learning.

The new school had to be able to accommodate extended usage of up to 12 hours a day for 52 weeks a year, compared to the traditional school usage of 7 hours a day, 42 weeks a year. The reason for this is to be able to accommodate a more flexible campus model of learning for senior students, to ease the transition from school to workplace and / or higher education.

Furthermore, this suite of demands all had to be achieved within the cost benchmarks of the Education Department of Western Australia (EDWA).

Shenton College also coincided with the EDWA's devolution of decision-making to local areas, providing an opportunity for more extensive stakeholder consultation than usual. Instead of working to a standard school brief, the architects, James Christou & Partners started from scratch, developing the design brief through the consultative process. Nevertheless, certain previous requirements remained inscribed, not least of which was the imperative to design to minimise operating energy costs and conformance to EDWA's energy performance standards for the building envelope.

In appearance, Shenton College bears little resemblance to a typical Western Australian state school. This no doubt has been a major factor in its early success in attracting students - 1200 on opening; 200 more than the two state schools it replaced. While designed in a manner completely different to the 'kit of parts' approach used for NSW schools such as Buxton Public School, it is likely that Shenton College will achieve a comparable level of energy efficiency for heating, cooling and ventilation.

South facade looking from main entrance to tower (which houses one of the special learning areas)

Project details

1. Building type: Secondary School

2. Building area: GFA 16,460m2

3. Number of occupants: 1200 students, 100 staff

4. Nature of occupancy: up to 12 hours a day, 210 days per year

5. Number of storeys: One (minor component in two)

6. Building address: Stubbs Terrace, Shenton Park, Perth, WA

7. Owner: Education Department Western Australia

8. Building cost: $16.25 million ($987/m2)

9. Net project cost (including site works and services): $19.2 million ($1,169/m2)

10. Estimated total costs (including fees, fitout, furniture and public art): $23.5 million

11. Completion date: December 2000