Long journey complete for westside Catholic school

The final chapter in Nudgee Junior College’s long transformation into Ambrose Treacy College has been officially opened.

The Waterford West building at Ambrose Treacy College, Indooroopilly, was blessed and formally opened on Friday.

The new Ambrose Treacy College principal, Chris Ryan, presided over the blessing and official opening of Waterford West on Friday, a milestone marking the final stage of its senior school precinct.

The brainchild of former principal Michael Senior, who retired late last year, it is the last piece in a grand project to turn the former Nudgee Junior College into a Year 4-12 campus.

“It’s a significant signpost for the community and marks the completion of our campus,’’ Mr Ryan said.

“It will support quality educational outcomes for generations to come.’’

Waterford West, which has three levels of modern flexible classrooms seamlessly connected to the rest of the college, was designed by leading architects Fulton Trotter which has been with the school back to its days as Nudgee Junior.

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Fulton Trotter continued the school’s distinctive red brick theme, a feature of the heritage-listed original Nudgee Junior buildings, but added modern colour splashes.

State of the art classrooms at the Waterford West building.

Beautiful landscaped outlook from the new building.

Seniors have their own common area to relax during breaks.

It connected Waterford West and a sports precinct, finished last year, to the older parts of the school via a pathway called the Emmaus Walk, which refers to Jesus’ journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

Students walk past nine wooden inscriptions from the Bible, ending at a large wooden crucifix.

After doing so many hundreds of times during their time at the school, it was hoped the true meaning of those inscriptions would stay with the young men for the rest of their lives.

Waterford West is connected to the rest of the school via a single-level, covered corridor to assist students with disabilities.

The classrooms feature the latest in flexible learning design and technology.

“The bright colours are also a bit of positive psychology for the students,’’ Mr Ryan said.

He thanked Mr Senior for his vision and hard work bringing the project to fruition, joking that he didn’t have to “lift a finger’’.

He also paid tribute to the State Government for its help in making the $3.4 million building a reality.

Labor MP for Mt Ommaney, Jess Pugh, was on hand on behalf of Education Minister Grace Grace to help launch the building.

LNP Councillor for Walter Taylor and state Greens MP Michael Berkman also joined the other dignitaries.