Suncoast Christian College breaks ground for $17m primary creative hub

The architects behind the Stockman’s Hall of Fame revamp will combine with the builders of a flagship Mercedes Benz dealership to create a new iconic building for a Sunshine Coast college. It promises a new way of learning.

The architects behind the Stockman’s Hall of Fame revamp will combine with the builders of a flagship Mercedes Benz dealership to create a new iconic building for a Sunshine Coast college.

Suncoast Christian College’s auditorium was filled on Wednesday for a theatrical groundbreaking ceremony which drew inspiration from everything from Disneyland to Thor to promote a new $17m three level primary school building.

The new building moves away from the idea of traditional classrooms to create collaborative spaces where teachers and students from different classes can work together, while also offering spaces where class groups can meet.

An artist impression of Suncoast Christian College's new primary school building.

It will include special science spaces along with kitchen and other breakout areas and will provide for three classes per year level to allow the 900-student college to grow

“The most exciting thing about this building is that it will provide a wonderful environment for our Primary students in which to learn and grow. It is the beginning of a new, exciting chapter,’’ Principal Greg Mattiske told students.

The three level primary school building will feature lots of creative spaces for learning and play.

“The new building will allow us to achieve our vision for learning for Primary, where students can undertake their classes in exciting spaces which are designed to be flexible, and provide learning that is truly collaborative, deep and creative.”

A mesh wall will feature thousands of small tiles to create patterns and the school’s logo.

The building has been designed by m3 architecture, a firm responsible for the Tree of Knowledge Memorial in Barcaldine, the Stockman’s Hall of fame refurbishment as well as a stunning building at St Patrick’s College in Townsville which includes an Irish lace-inspired screen to keep out the harsh sun while symbolising the school’s religious and cultural history.

An artist impression of inside Suncoast Christian College's new primary school building.

The Woombye college’s new building will feature a ‘clever mesh’ surrounding to keep students on the higher levels safe without the need for big, high rails. The mesh will have 1000s of small tiles attached to it to create patterns and the school logo which will be seen from Nambour Connection Road.

Suncoast Christian College's new primary school building will have its own amphitheatre.

The building will overlook the college oval and rainforest and will include a new undercover amphitheatre, two classroom levels and an undercroft with plenty of space for students to have lunch out of the sun and rain as well as play games.

Artist impression of Suncoast Christian College's new primary school building.

It will be built by Badge Constructions, which has been responsible for numerous facilities at the University of the Sunshine Coast as well as the Mercedes Benz dealership in Maroochydore.

Mr Mattiske said it was the first major building project for the college in 12 years and the culmination of three years of master planning to take the college into the next 20 or 30 years.

Principal Greg Mattiske leads the groundbreaking ceremony for Suncoast Christian College's new primary school building.

The signature building is expected to take 15 months to complete and will be followed by other upgrades to the high school.

The Prep to Year 12 college, which started in an old pineapple packing shed, celebrated its 40th year in 2019.

Marion Trotter and Melanie Mitchell try to lift the ‘groundbreaker’.

Mr Mattiske paid tribute to the college’s business manager Moses Faleafa who had put hundreds of hours into the planning as well as the college board and church oversight for backing the ambitious, visionary project.

Thor-some work: It took a team effort featuring prep students to lift the ceremonial shovel.

“The Primary staff team, led by Ms Melanie Mitchell, have also done tremendous work in reinventing themselves, and just about everything about the way students learn in Primary in preparation for teaching in the new facilities. They are a wonderful and remarkable team,’’ he said.

In the end it was the prep students who were given the honour of lifting the ceremonial shovel from a throne carried to the stage by the college captains, after a dramatic build-up under spotlights featuring Marvel’s legendary Thor.

Cheers all around as students, staff, and college board and project team members join in the groundbreaking ceremony for Suncoast Christian College's new $17m primary school building.

Mr Mattiske hammed it up for the students, as did primary leaders Melanie Mitchell and Marion Trotter.

“We have waited a long time to break the ground on a new building for Primary. It is so momentous that a special tool is needed for this event,‘’ Mr Mattiske told excited students.

“A shovel. And not just any shovel, but a ceremonial shovel that symbolises the importance and start of an exciting future for Suncoast.’’

Originally published as Suncoast Christian College breaks ground for $17m primary creative hub