Woodleigh Futures Studio

It provides a dynamic project-based learning environment for students to explore and address real-world problems with a regenerative focus.

The largest pavilion houses a collection of five learning spaces and two quiet learning pods, offering a range of flexible learning settings for personalisation and student agency.

The learning spaces, fitted with acoustic ceiling panels made from reclaimed fabric, feature large sliding doors, allowing collaborative project-based work to occur alongside subject-based learning.

A second pavilion houses staff areas and amenities, while the third serves as the 'homestead', a communal kitchen/social space shared between students and staff, building a sense of belonging and community.

The building's innovative construction system combines a prefabricated steel truss post and beam frame with straw wall and ceiling panels, recycled cork façade spray, and a living green roof, complete with a drought-resilient wicking bed.

The Durrapanel straw panels are embedded with biochar to filter pollutants from the air. The green roof provides a protected habitat to foster the life cycles of native butterflies, birds, and bees, while its thermal mass and soil weight significantly reduce the need for mass concrete footings.

The building is run entirely on solar power with an Australian-made battery storage system that is completely recyclable - as are all the materials used across the project.

The project group has open-sourced the designs under a Creative Commons license to allow other schools to use the technology and innovations.

This provides public benefit from a private project, showing students and the wider community what a regenerative future might look like, and inspiring them to take action.