A World Class Campus

Supporting students achieve their aspirational goals, throughout their educational journey at a world class campus, in a growing community.

NBRS were engaged by the Department of Education to design and document a new integrational educational campus on a 6-hectare greenfield site in the rapidly growing residential housing estate, within the Northwestern Sydney region.

As part of the creative thought process, the NBRS team wanted to provide students with a sense of orientation and a strong connection to Country. This is achieved via 3 methods:

• The design is a perimeter model broken down into a series of blocks and pods reflecting the seed pods found in the local bushland
• The courtyard play space is orientated towards the open space and bushland setting
• Clear sightlines from all circulation routes provide excellent views of the Blue Mountains and beyond.

Students will be encouraged to pursue their dreams and aspirations with all new state-of-the-art modern flexible classrooms and facilities including: science labs, wood and metal workshop rooms, specialist support classrooms, hospitality and vocational education deck kitchens, spaces to grow food gardens, PE fitness lab, Indoor basketball/gym hall, Outdoor Basketball Courts, Big outdoor Oval, lecture/performing arts hall and Library.

Melonba has been designed to be mindful of different learning stages and provide a supportive learning experience suited to a range of learning styles. The design which features a 1000 primary, and 2000 high school space is based on the standard hub format, embodying the Modern Method of Construction (MMoC) principles:

1. Off- site manufacturing and assembly – components and designs are built off -site, and then transported and combined on site, increasing safety and efficiency. In this case, reduced disruption to the school learning environment by limiting site works to site preparation, foundations and installations which were completed in the holiday periods.
2. Digitalization and BIM – A digital representation of the design is used for design, construction and facility management, improving collaboration and reducing errors
3. Sustainability – Sustainable materials and energy efficient designs are used. Off-site construction reduces on-site waste. Melonba is expected to function for decades beyond the build therefore, whole-of-life materials were selected.
4. Lean construction - workflows are streamlined with materials being delivered to site only when needed, reducing waste and improving productivity.
5. Enhanced Quality and Safety – reduced on-site activities leading to improved safety and better-quality control.
6. Speed and Efficiency – off-site manufacturing and assembly reduces overall construction time improving project timelines.
7. Flexibility and Adaptability - Designs must be adaptable to changing needs.