Cardijn College’s $18.5m new building – part of a $42m masterplan – includes a ‘serenity room’
How’s the serenity? A “spiritual retreat” is included in this southern suburbs school’s $42 million masterplan.
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There’s an awful lot of construction to be done over the next six years at a southern suburbs school, so it’s a good thing the next building to go up will have a “serenity room”.
The spiritual retreat, also to be used for 360 degree, immersive audio-visual experiences, will be within the $18.5 million project planned for Cardijn College’s main campus at Noarlunga Downs. The two-storey building is the largest project in the Catholic school’s $42 million masterplan.
The ground level will feature open-plan STEM laboratories and specialist areas for design technology, visual arts and fashion. The upstairs will have senior secondary classrooms. Principal Paul Rijken said the serenity room, or spiritual retreat, would be a place for students’ reflection and contemplation. But it would also be equipped with a multi-projector system to create 360 degree experiences for humanities and religious education classes. Construction will begin mid next year and be finished in September, 2021.
The building is the third stage of the masterplan. The first was relocation of a maintenance compound ($1.5m) while the second is a significant landscaping project ($3.5m) just weeks from completion.
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The fourth stage, involving negotiations with the State Government over land next to the school, would be a four-court basketball stadium, followed by performing arts and environment centres. The masterplan is due for completion in 2025.
Dr Rijken said the works were “completely self-funded” on the back of strong enrolment growth and the addition of Year 7s. From 2018-21, numbers across two campuses will rise from 1000 to about 1420.
Another Catholic school, Xavier College at Gawler, has just opened a $6.5 million development. The former gym has been turned into the 300-seat auditorium named after Colonel George Gawler Auditorium. The old library has become the Dame Roma Mitchell Staff Centre.
