Swanbury Penglase was engaged by DIT in late 2019 to realise the redevelopment of the Norwood Morialta Magill Senior Campus and its collocation with the Morialta Middle School Campus, bringing the site student population from 850 to over 1700.

The project involves the substantial redevelopment of almost all buildings and the provision of two new buildings – a three storey Middle School facility and a two storey Innovation Hub (home economics and art), connected closely to an existing building offering music and technical studies.

The project also involves the repurposing of an under-utilised cafeteria space to provide a dynamic new “Learning Hub”, locating centrally within the School, bringing together learning support, library services, international studies and IT. Collaborative and flexible spaces for learning and working are included within this area, drawing direct inspiration from tertiary design.

Other areas of the redevelopment include new workspaces, break out areas and flexible work opportunities where students and staff can work side-by-side.

The project also includes a new roof top deck playspace aimed at incoming Year 7 students as well as extensive landscape and site redevelopment to provide vibrant and dynamic play and social spaces and dramatically improve accessibility across what was previously a sloping site, consistent with the School’s foothills location.

Scheduled for completion 2024

Named after its expressive roof form which was inspired by the saw-tooth roof of the Main Assembly Building (MAB) opposite, Vertex Apartments is the product of a long-standing and trusted partnership between Peet and Swanbury Penglase. Sitting pride-of place on MAB Circuit, Vertex Apartments brings a new expression to apartment living at Tonsley Village.

The development has been planned as four distinct buildings which will be delivered over four separate stages. The planning of separate buildings is designed to reduce the built form along the streetscape. Openings in the façade serve to allow access & views between the buildings improving the connection between Tonsley Village and MAB Circuit. The separation between buildings also provides improved access for natural light into the apartments with windows carefully positioned to prevent overlooking. As a gateway project into Tonsley Village, the apartments are designed with large private balconies providing activation of MAB Circuit. Extensive landscaping along the road verge provides a sensitive interface along MAB Circuit whilst providing screening for ground floor apartments.

The buildings are articulated by a series of ‘picture frames’ which define the edges of the balconies and serve to provide privacy between the apartments. With its saw-tooth roof and white metal cladding, the form is expressive of the distinctive saw-tooth roof of the MAB opposite. The linear composition and repeated forms are designed to emulate a row of townhouses contributing to a more residential scale. Overall, the selection of materials reflects the industrial history of the site and a sense of place in Tonsley Village.

The 4-storey development will be delivered using lightweight timber framed construction appropriately designed to meet the sound transmission and insulation provisions and fire-resisting construction requirements of the NCC.