Perth office block to become vertical school

A 1980s office building in Perth's CBD will be transformed into a vibrant education campus, with City of Perth approving the proposed design at a meeting of its Local Development Assessment Panel on 3 April.

Designed by Hassell, the project will accommodate a new campus for St George's Anglican Grammar School and offices for the Anglican Schools Commission and ASC International.

St George's Anglican Grammar School currently leases a building at nearby 50 William Street, and the redevelopment of its new site will allow the school to raise its enrolment capacity. Currently limited to 450 students, the school will have space for 600 students in 2025 (after the first stage of redevelopment) and 800 students when the second stage is completed in 2032.

Stage one involves the adaptive re-use of the existing seven-storey office building, while stage two adds eight new storeys.

"This development hopes to be [a] showcase for vertical schooling and a beacon for sustainable design through a positive adaptive re-use of existing building and vertical expansion to reflect [the] growing needs of the community," proponents said in the development application.

"The re-use and upgrading of the existing, slightly tired office building is a very good sustainability story and a good way of displaying different and unanticipated community activity in the CBD."

The design proposes a series of terraces and balconies on the northern facade of the building.

"The cascading outdoor spaces creat[e] a series of habitable, north-facing landscapes that are fixed in and out of the frame, for breakout, informal learning, affordable non-airconditioned major circulation space and greenery - a city garden," the proponents said.

"The northern orientation of [the] main facade allows for good natural light and views to the internal environments, while also creating a strong visual connection between inner workings of the school and public realm. This creates articulation and visual interest along the elevation, while allowing for sun shading to be integrated within additional elements."

A striking red "ribbon stair" will connect the outdoor breakout spaces, express student movement patterns and enhance wayfinding.

"The red colour for the 'ribbon' was chosen as a nod to the distinctive red blazers worn by the students of St George's Anglican School [who] can be seen walking around the Perth CBD. This distinctive element creates a connection between the students, city and school," the proponents said.

City of Perth Design Review Panel found the proposal to be "a valuable benchmark example for the adaptive reuse of an aging and vacant low-grade commercial office building."