A new home for the next generation of STEM leaders 

Mary MacKillop College is an historic Catholic school for girls in Years 7-12 located in Kensington, South Australia.  

In 2023, Sarah partnered with the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart to deliver the school’s first major upgrade in a decade – the long-awaited Tenison Centre, named for Father Julian Tenison Woods, the founder of the organisation. 

The new building welcomes the community to the school’s main entrance, and the modern, curved façade is designed to have an identity of its own while blending with the existing buildings. 

The new multi-storey building is home to the College’s science and art faculties and includes specialist science laboratories, chemical storerooms, art and design studios, breakout spaces, staff facilities, amenities and landscaped courtyards.  

Sarah’s scope also included upgrades to site infrastructure including a new fire tank system and storage tanks and pump station.  

Despite the discovery of latent soil conditions during early works, the project was safely delivered as scheduled in time for the important start of the 2024 school year.  

Delivered within an operational school environment, and immediately adjacent to residents, Sarah’s open communication style and collaborative approach to avoiding disruption to the students and staff was integral in delivering the project with the full support of the community.  

The Tenison Centre is now home to the next generation of design and STEM leaders. 

Design Challenges and Creative Solutions

Client Outcomes

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