ThomsonAdsett

Loreto College

Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor

LORETO COLLEGE

ThomsonAdsett

ARCHITECTS
Thomsonadsett

LOCATION
415 cavendish road, coorparoo qld 4151, australia

ARCHITECTURAL TECHNICIAN
Tom fowler, steve foro

AREA
1115.0 sqm

PROJECT YEAR
2014

PHOTOGRAPHS
Alicia Taylor

STRUCTURAL
MPN Consulting

ACOUSTIC
ASK Consulting Engineers

QUANTITY SURVEYOR
DCWC

TOWN PLANNING
Integran

PROJECT MANAGER
Ridgemill

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
Rohrig Constructions

CIVIL
MPN Consulting

LANDSCAPE
Cardno

Text description provided by architect.

A new dual-purpose facility for a girls’ school in Brisbane has set a leading example for future proofed education design.

Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor
Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor
Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor

The Cruci Building at Loreto College in Coorparoo, designed by ThomsonAdsett, opened in October 2014 as a new year level facility which will eventually be expanded to form a performing arts theatre.

ThomsonAdsett’s strategic masterplanned design was the result of extensive collaboration and a collective desire to create inspirational places for teaching and learning.

Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor
Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor

Located within a highly constrained rock face site, the building maximises the available campus area, with allowance for future expansion.

Several multipurpose spaces of varying scale and formality overlap teaching, learning and performance functionalities. A large, multipurpose ground level space will eventually serve as a theatre foyer, while the lift and kitchen have been strategically planned to maximise agility and to service operations and future intermissions respectively.

Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor
Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor

Different sized breakout areas influence the form of the building with standard verandas making way to inspirational outdoor spaces that facilitate learning and collaboration both internally and externally.

Writable surfaces and wireless technology further enhance collaboration, enabling student ‘thinking’ to be captured and displayed. This, together with moveable furniture, enables easy change of layout, which is essential for variety in pedagogy. 

Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor
Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor

A striking bronze façade complements the listed brickwork of the surrounding buildings and creates a distinctive sculptural element that also provides a degree of shelter and modulated northern light.

The Cruci Building is a revolutionary example of high quality, future proofed education design – one that represents exceptional value for money in the short and long term and stays true to the character and soul of the college.

Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor
Loreto College
© Alicia Taylor


Loreto College
Ground Floor Plan
Loreto College
First Floor Plan
Loreto College
Site Plan


Loreto College
South Elevation

ThomsonAdsett
T +61 7 38409999 F +61 7 32521201
ThomsonAdsett
1/333 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia