Following our recent completion of Xavier College’s strategic Master Plan, MGS was engaged through a competitive process to design and deliver the College’s new Year 7 and 8 Building. This significant new building is the foundation project for the Kew campus transformation.
Designed to support students at a pivotal point in their development, the New Kostka Building embodies the principles established in the Master Plan, delivering a building that is a learning tool, rich with opportunities for discovery.
The building is integrated into the campus through a multistorey learning street that overlooks the College’s iconic Memorial Chapel and famous sports fields, while showcasing learning to the broader school community, sparking curiosity.
Social connection is at the core of the concept: carefully scaled learning neighbourhoods support informal learning in a variety of learning styles, from small groups and individuals, to classes and year levels.
Xavier College’s new Manresa space transforms a hidden, bunker-like basement into a vibrant new learning space for students in years 7 & 8.
Constraints inherent in the existing basement, most notably its dimensions and structural elements, were seen as design and programmatic opportunities. Two classrooms have been suspended in the space, over a lightweight third classroom and associated breakout, designed for future flexibility. A glued laminated timber structure has been suspended from the carbon fibre-reinforced existing beam, avoiding additional columns. The engineering is revealed as a learning opportunity for students, dictating a unique aesthetic for the space.
In line with the College’s strong Ignatian pedagogy, Manresa nurtures the individuality of each student, while ensuring they are part of a connected broader group. Classrooms are transparent, exposing students to different types of learning, sparking curiosity, and allowing each space access to natural light and views of the trees above.
