Winner of the Best Secondary School at the 2022 Victorian School awards, Wurun Senior campus in Fitzroy is a new highly sustainable vertical school designed by GHD Woodhead in collaboration with Grimshaw.

Situated on part of the former gasworks site, the narrow, constrained block presented a number of challenges for the design team, which included the brief to incorporate three full-size multipurpose sports courts. Utilizing an innovative vertically stacked configuration, the indoor courts feature floor-to-ceiling glass louvres by Safetyline Jalousie. The impressive louvre facade spans six stories and provides a sense of expansiveness to the otherwise tight urban site, with spectacular views out to the city.

The sustainability focus is evident, with the facade carefully modelled to achieve thermal comfort through an abundance of natural light and fresh air, resulting in minimal reliance on mechanical services and energy demand.

From a specifier’s perspective, the project demonstrates the outstanding performance and design flexibility of Safetyline Jalousie louvre windows. Considering factors associated with health, wellbeing, environment and finance, the installation of Safetyline Jalousie louvres will deliver ongoing benefits well into the future for this revolutionary school campus.