Building a new kind of school
Alder Constructions has been awarded the building contract to deliver the Gold Coast’s newest Special Assistance School, Arcadia College at Robina. The Gold Coast based construction company has broken ground, marking the start of construction of the $11.4 million private education facility.
Arcadia College currently operates in Varsity Lakes and works with students, many of whom have faced personal hardship and difficulties. The new 3,000sqm building, located at Centreline Place adjacent to the train station at Robina, will increase the school’s capacity to 300 students across its campus.
Alder Constructions General Manager Dean Cheffers says Arcadia is a one-of-a-kind future focused education facility designed to encourage student creativity, collaboration, nutrition and overall wellbeing. “The new campus consists of a three level multi-purpose educational building, featuring progressive learning and recreation facilities, and a youth hub,” he said.
“The facility will house the grade 7 to 12 classrooms, along with a student wellbeing centre which includes a nurse, psychologist and career counsellor ensuring upmost care and education is prevalent throughout the students education journey.
“The new consolidated facility also includes a number of specialty rooms including hospitality, an IT hub, an HPE rock climbing wall, multipurpose basketball court, dance studio and exterior playground equipment. The Youth hub will be available to families and the wider community by providing employment, medical, welfare and specialised services including career advice.”
Designed by award winning Gold Coast Architects Burling Brown, Board Chair of Arcadia College Trina Hockley says new school and youth hub will create a holistic approach to the traditional education curriculum.
“The design is different from your traditional school; this futuristic learning environment will promote creativity while fostering inclusion and wellbeing,” Ms Hockley said.
“Supporting our students with quality meals nutrition is critical for health and concentration, the rooms are fitted with kitchens where students prepare and share meals in a collaborative setting.
“Exercise has proven key in keeping student’s physically and mentally healthy. That is why we have incorporated a basketball court, indoor rock climbing, gym and recreational centre where students can participate in yoga, drama or Pilates.
“The contribution to this project by the Commonwealth and State Government needs to be recognised, with over $4.2M in capital funding from the Commonwealth Government through Queensland Independent Schools Block Grant Authority and over $1.3M Capital funding from Queensland State Government.”
Arcadia College has added to Alder Constructions’ substantial portfolio of cutting edge education facilities at leading schools across South East Queensland.
Alder Construction has delivered multiple progressive and sector defining educational projects in the past 12 months. These include A.B. Paterson’s new $13 million state-of-the-art learning precinct, ‘The Pod’ at Coomera Anglican College, The Southport School Multi-Purpose Hall at the preparatory campus, all designed by Burling Brown Architects.
Published in Gold Coast Bulletin – 05 September 2019
