Vertaura High School

Project Summary

In Victoria, namely the Melbourne metropolitan area, student numbers are set to increase and overwhelm current school sizes, with 14 high schools already operating over capacity. In response to University High School running at 110% capacity, the MSB education building team is focused on retrofitting an abandoned office building in Melbourne into a state–of-the-art vertical school.

Aligning with the Department of Education’s search for a long-term option for University High School’s senior school cohort, the vertical school will focus on the specific needs of this school, while also considering allowing for scalability to other schools in Victoria. Designing for growing populations, this project addresses increasing student enrolments in urban areas where space is a constraint. The target market for the project includes metropolitan schools seeking a flexible, scalable and sustainable solution for educational infrastructure. This design leverages limited land area, and wasted space, while addressing the unique needs of urban school systems, with a great emphasis on energy efficiency.

The proposed retrofit of the existing building as a secondary school campus aligns with the Solar Decathlon Design Challenge’s goals of promoting zero-energy solutions, and sustainable practices, by addressing embodied and operational carbon emissions. By reusing an urban site, the project reduces carbon impact, integrates renewable energy for efficiency, and fosters community engagement. It also emphasizes scalability, affordability, and equity, demonstrating innovative solutions to urban blight while creating an inclusive and sustainable educational environment.