AT A GLANCE
Adaptive reuse: we took an ageing commercial building and gave it a new purpose
Flexible learning spaces: light-filled collaborative spaces are adjustable to suit various teaching modes
The city is our campus: West End becomes an extension of learning, culture, and civic life through the project
AngliSchools House on Whadjuk Country is an inner-city vertical high school, where a once tired commercial office building now buzzes with energy and learning. This bold transformation reimagines learning in an urban environment, through a modern, flexible school ready for the future, supporting the ambitions of students, teachers, and the wider school community.
We took an ageing commercial building and gave it a new purpose — refurbishing, upgrading, and expanding it into an efficient, state-of-the-art educational facility that establishes a connected campus and world-class workplace. Now, St George’s Anglican Grammar School, the Anglican Schools Commission (ASC) headquarters, and the ASC International School call this lively space home.
Central to the design is the strategic adaptation of the existing office building and the primary architectural move setting the foundation for long-life learning. Flexibility was a key design driver to ensure the building could be used for different purposes as its needs evolved. This included working closely with structural engineer Colliers to strengthen the structure to allow for the addition of eight levels, intended as part of future expansion plans.
Inside, everything is designed for real people and real learning. Light-filled collaborative spaces can be modified to suit various teaching modes while movable partitions, writable surfaces and open-plan social zones support student-centred teaching. Glass walls open up the interiors, so what’s happening inside feels open and welcoming.
Outside, landscaped terraces invite outdoor learning and connection, while added greenery brings nature into the heart of the city. A new external stair highlights movement and activity, making the school’s energy and civic presence visible to all.
At ground, the building meets the street with open doors and transparent façades, inviting the city in. Community spaces at ground level aren’t just for students — they’re there for everyone, creating new opportunities for the people of Perth to connect and thrive. Driven by the urban proposition of “City is our campus”, the CBD also becomes an extension of teaching, culture and civic life through the project’s contribution to West End, injecting daily life into the city through the presence of students, staff and visitors.
This transformation not only succeeded in reducing construction waste and environmental impact, but it also honours the ASC’s legacy, future-proofing the site for the next generation of learners.
