The Foxford Innovation Centre is a bold architectural statement, redefining St Columba’s College’s identity at its prominent Buckley Street intersection in Essendon.

This cutting-edge STEAM facility serves 1,040 students with 16 specialist learning environments, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on, inquiry-driven education.

The three-level structure seamlessly integrates advanced digital infrastructure with adaptable, modular spaces, ensuring pedagogical flexibility for evolving curricula. A sculptural precast concrete facade, combined with expansive glass-walled classrooms, promotes transparency and connectivity, enhancing student engagement and cross-disciplinary exchange.

The central atrium, with tiered seating, functions as both a circulation space and an interactive learning hub, while outdoor terraces and sheltered breakout zones extend education beyond traditional classrooms.

Rooted in sustainability and progressive architectural vision, the Foxford Innovation Centre optimises natural light, employs high-performance materials, and implements passive environmental strategies.

As one of the first gas-free STEAM education projects in Australia, the centre relies entirely on electrification, reinforcing its commitment to reducing carbon emissions and embracing renewable energy. Balancing innovation with respect for the school’s heritage fabric, it establishes a new benchmark for contemporary STEAM education design.

Architecture & Design: Can you describe the initial vision for this project and how it evolved over time?

The Initial vision was to create a learning hub for specialist teaching spaces for Sciences, Making, Art , Design and food sciences this was around a central agile space. Cross pollination and collaboration was encouraged through visibility and proximity with the various disciplines next to each other with clear vision as to what each sector had to offer.

What were the biggest challenges you faced during the design and construction phases, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge faced on the project was to provide the varied and dedicated learning spaces on a constrained site, to provide the College had the highest and best use for its limited resource which was land. A three-storey solution was undertaken with an additional challenge of making the entire building feel connected.

This was achieved by designing the learning spaces around a central auditorium space that operated as vertical circulation as well as an agile lecture theatre.

How did you ensure that the project met the client’s needs and expectations?

Extensive consultation was undertaken, with all design outcomes clearly costed and communicated to the client. A key focus was aligning the project budget with the desired pedagogical outcomes.

The function and value of agile and collaborative spaces were tested against more traditional models, with a variety of spatial solutions adopted throughout the building to best support different learning modes.

Were there any unique or innovative techniques or materials used in this project?

Yes—several. The sculptural precast concrete façade is not only visually striking but also thermally efficient and low-maintenance, creating a bold new identity for the campus.

The precast was an economic choice to act as structure and rainscreen, but by curving the panels face and breaking up the panels to irregular sizes we were able to create an elegant box floating over the top of a semi basement carpark.

Inside, expansive glass-walled classrooms promote visibility and collaboration across disciplines, while tiered-seating in the atrium doubles as circulation and informal learning space.

Sustainability was a driver throughout: The centre is fully electrified, eliminating fossil fuel reliance, and integrates rainwater harvesting, passive daylighting, and high-performance materials to reduce energy use.

Modular and reconfigurable teaching spaces ensure long-term adaptability, while outdoor terraces and perforated metal screens contribute to comfort and engagement with nature.

How does this project fit into your broader portfolio and design philosophy?

The Foxford Innovation Centre is emblematic of our design philosophy at LiFE Architecture and Urban Design. We’re committed to designing sustainable spaces that empower people to thrive intellectually, socially, and emotionally.

This project aligns perfectly with our focus on sustainability, spatial adaptability, and architectural clarity. It also builds on our broader education portfolio by pushing boundaries in pedagogical innovation, and meaningful campus integration. It’s a building that not only serves its users today but has been designed to evolve with them well into the future.

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