Gold Coast education work to start today on Arcadia’s new school at Robina on the Gold Coast

Work begins today on the Gold Coast’s newest school campus. The $11.4 million state-of-the art building is set to open next year.

An artist’s impression of the Arcadia College campus in Robina.

WORK starts today on Arcadia College’s new $11.4 million campus at Robina near the Cbus Super Stadium.

Ohana Education Ltd, a not-for-profit entity linked to Arcadia College, owns the 2500sq m block on Centreline Place, which was purchased for $3.025 million in 2016.

Construction of the three-level 3000sq m building is expected to take about nine to 10 months and upon completion will enable Arcadia to increase its student intake from 190 to 300.

Arcadia College is based at Varsity Lakes and works with students who have faced personal hardship. It will close its Varsity campus and base its all students at Robina when the new building opens.

An artist impression of the Arcadia College campus in Robina.

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The new school will include classrooms for Grade 7 through to 12 students, student wellbeing centre, as well as other features, including an IT hub, HPE rock climbing wall, basketball court, dance studio and playground.

Approval for the project was granted by the council last year.

Arcadia College chairman Trina Hockley said the building epitomises its holistic approach to education.

“The design is different from your traditional school,” she said.

An artist impressions of the Arcadia College campus in Robina.

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“This futuristic learning environment will promote creativity while fostering ­inclusion and wellbeing.

“Supporting our students with quality meals is critical for health and concentration, the rooms are fitted with kitchens where students prepare and share meals in a collaborative setting.

“Exercise has proven key in keeping students’ physically and mentally healthy. That is why we have incorporated features such as the indoor rock climbing wall and gym and recreational centre.”

Ms Hockley said the project had attracted $4.2 million in funding from the Federal Government and $1.3 million from the State Government.

An artist impression of the Arcadia College campus in Robina.

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Alder Constructions has been appointed builder for the Arcadia project.

The Gold Coast company has specialised in delivering school buildings, recently completing A.B. Paterson’s new $13 million learning precinct. Alder Constructions general manager Dean Cheffers called the Arcadia building, which was designed by Gold Coast architects Burling Brown, a“ one-of-a-kind future focused education facility”.

Arcadia’s income and expenditure statement for 2018 shows it received $4.87 million in government grants and had a net surplus of $1.446 million.