STEM wars: schools embark on high tech building spree
Queensland’s state and private schools have dramatically upped the ante for the flashiest science and tech centres, splurging more than $100 million. The latest STEM marvel opened last week.
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Indooroopilly’s Brigidine College has become the latest in a long line of Queensland schools to unveil amazing new science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) buildings.
The inner-west school last week threw open the doors on the Marian Centre, a $13 million multi-level marvel designed by Blight Rayner Architects and constructed by Alder Constructions.
State and private schools have splurged at least $100 million in the past two years on STEM buildings which feature everything from 3D printing rooms to robotics labs.
And at The Gap State High, students no longer have to crowd around their teacher while they demonstrate experiments - they just watch on their laptops, with video streamed via overhead cameras.
Brigidine’s Marian Centre includes spacious science laboratories, flexible and collaborative classrooms, an industrial laser printer and tiered theatrette seating.
Fittingly, the opening ceremony was live streamed.
Principal Brendan Cahill said he identified the need for a STEM hub several years ago.
The College Board then endorsed his belief that students needed a strong foundation in STEM to support their future careers.
“Our vision for the Marian Centre was to provide learning in a sustainable building for our young women to be a difference in the world,” Mr Cahill said.
He said he was proud to see “our future doctors, engineers and scientists foster their love of STEM in collaborative spaces at Brigidine College’’.
Staff and students will hold a series of experiments and demonstrations in the new building during Science Week, from August 15-23.
STEM WARS: SOME RECENT QLD SCHOOL SCIENCE AND TECH PROJECTS
Ipswich State High - work began last month on a $7m including makerspaces, robotics, coding classrooms, four computer and four general classrooms.
Ipswich Grammar School - $11.5m, due for completion end of this year. Laboratories, lecture theatre, interactive workshop space, dedicated classroom for younger STEM students
The Gap State High - $10.7m building completed April last year. 3D printer room, four laboratories, seven classrooms, three flexible learning areas, two robotics labs.
Ferny Grove State High - $21.1m building opened in March with 22 classrooms, three flexible learning areas, four science labs, STEM specialist studio, five collaborative spaces, staffrooms, offices.
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology (Toowong) - Eastern STEM hub building including robotics and makerspace labs, science labs, e-learning hubs completed December last year.
Genesis Christian College (Bray Park) - built in 2019, it has four classrooms, learning support and enrichment facility.
Mountain Creek State High (Sunshine Coast) - finished April last year, $16.4m centre with 16 general learning areas, two flexible learning areas, three STEM learning spaces, three science and two robotics labs, two collaborative and staff spaces.
Trinity Anglican School (Cairns) - eye-catching, award-winning design with two maths classrooms, six laboratories, solar powered.