The Illawarra Grammar School has opened a new education building in Wollongong that has become the first school building in New South Wales to achieve the internationally recognised Passivhaus Standard, marking a milestone for sustainable design in the state’s education sector.
The Hoskins Building, a two-storey, 2,500 square metre learning hub, was developed by architects betti und knut architecture and builder Rohrig, working alongside an extensive team of consultants and specialist contractors.
The facility houses flexible learning spaces, a junior library, STEM facilities, senior classrooms and a 150-seat auditorium, all built to support students for generations to come.
Passivhaus is regarded as one of the most demanding building performance standards in the world.
It focuses on dramatically cutting the energy required for heating and cooling through exceptional insulation, airtight construction, carefully managed ventilation and rigorous attention to detail across the entire building envelope.
Achieving that standard called for precision from every business involved in the build.
At the centre of the design is a mass timber structural system supplied by KLH Massivholz, which forms the building’s structural skeleton.
Combined with natural timber cladding, triple glazing, a green roof and rooftop solar, the building has been designed to use around 90 per cent less energy for heating and cooling than a conventional school building, while storing significant amounts of carbon within its timber frame.
Beyond its environmental credentials, the extensive use of timber also helps create warm, inviting learning spaces for students and staff.
Delivering a building to Passivhaus standard demands close coordination between every party involved, with each junction and material interface carefully managed to preserve the airtight envelope.
That collaboration extended across Rohrig, betti und knut architecture, 3EM structure, Northrop Consulting Engineers, Savcon and Big River, who together supported the school’s sustainability ambitions.
For The Illawarra Grammar School, the Hoskins Building is intended to deliver a healthier learning environment and lower running costs while reducing its environmental footprint.