Our new facilities have provided students and teachers at Bacchus Marsh College with vibrant, spacious and flexible learning spaces that are modern and purposeful for 21st century learning. The architecture enables innovation and creativity through intelligent use of spaces to maximise learning opportunities, such as flexible access across classrooms and other spaces, including the fusion hub, technology project yard, Hospitality Centre (including Café) and a centrally located maker-space for STEM. The design features have enabled higher levels of engagement in learning, including collaboration, and provide opportunities for exploration as we continue to evolve. The spaces have also enabled greater utilisation beyond the classroom and the school day, providing unique and inspiring environments for Open Nights, Careers Expos, Interviews and Community Workshops.

Since occupying our new facilities, the impact on students and staff has been significant. Our College community feels valued and proud of their new learning environment and they have all demonstrated a high level of respect and ownership towards it. Students have commented that their new learning spaces are more inspiring, particularly in the area of STEM. They can further envisage what is possible when they can see the range of equipment, machinery, displays and models surrounding them, coupled with the fact that they have sufficient and purposeful ‘break-out’ spaces to work in. Staff morale has also been positively impacted with teachers and support staff reporting a greater sense of enjoyment and higher levels of engagement through the utilisation of the new learning environment. We have also noticed and sensed a more positive and professional feel to staff meetings and professional learning sessions since moving into our modernised facilities.

The Bacchus Marsh College community are extremely proud of our new state-of-the-art facilities. We are extremely grateful for the services and expertise of Y2 Architects for their support and guidance in allowing us to expand upon our vision, maximising space, and the utilisation of it, through creative designing. We now have facilities that more suitably cater for the current needs of our students, and we also have the confidence that we have the flexibility to adapt to changes as we move into the future.