From Concept to Completion: Design Journey of Coonawarra Willam
The Coonawarra Willam Aquatic Centre at Ivanhoe Grammar School is more than a new facility—it’s the result of a deeply considered design journey. Here are behind the scenes of how the vision unfolded, from early sketches to final built form, guided by a narrative of wellness, sustainability, and cultural respect.
“This new centre is crafted to enhance Ivanhoe Grammar’s commitment to fostering balanced, active lifestyles in line with its educational values. The design incorporates contemporary, sustainable elements, ensuring it serves as a lasting, environmentally friendly asset for the school and future generations.” – Socrati Seretis, Design Lead and Project Principal.
The Coonawarra Willam Aquatic Centre at Ivanhoe Grammar – Plenty Campus is a forward-thinking project designed to provide top-tier aquatic and wellness facilities for both students and the wider school community. The centre features a state-of-the-art swimming pool, four multi-purpose learning hubs, fitness spaces, and dedicated wellness areas to support physical health, mental well-being, and holistic development.
This new centre is crafted to enhance the school's commitment to fostering balanced, active lifestyles in line with its educational values. The design incorporates modern, sustainable elements, ensuring it serves as a lasting, environmentally friendly asset for the school and future generations.
Stage 1: Evaluating the Site Conditions and Testing the Brief
Every great project begins with a deep understanding of place. For the Coonawarra Willam Aquatic Centre, Stage 1 focused on carefully evaluating the existing site conditions. This included topographical analysis, environmental considerations, and how the facility would integrate with the wider campus. Close collaboration with school leadership and key stakeholders helped us test and refine the brief, ensuring the design would support both student wellbeing and the school’s broader educational and community aspirations.
Stage 2: A Vision Drawing on Context and Local Theming
Following the initial site evaluation, the design team focused on establishing a vision that would be both contextually grounded and rich in meaning. The architectural language draws inspiration from the campus itself—most notably through the north façade, which references the form of stacked textbooks, symbolising learning and growth. The material palette was carefully curated to complement the nearby historic chapel, with muted tones and textures that honour the existing campus character without competing with it.
Another defining feature of the Architectural envelope is the avenue wall, finished in a warm, earthy hue that reflects the colours of the local Plenty landscape, bringing a strong sense of place into the heart of the facility. Above, the saw tooth roof form not only adds architectural interest but plays a vital functional role: capturing soft, natural light and drawing it into the main pool hall. This interplay of light and structure fosters a sense of openness and connection with the sky, enhancing the user experience and reinforcing the centre’s focus on wellbeing.
Stage 3: Delivering the Core Facility Functions
With a well-informed brief and a clear understanding of the site, Stage 3 turned vision into function. This phase centred on designing the core aquatic and wellness components, including a 25-metre lap pool, learn-to-swim areas, multipurpose learning spaces, and supporting amenities. The focus was on delivering spaces that are not only highly functional but also uplifting, inclusive, and conducive to learning and personal growth. The design balances operational efficiency with aesthetic quality, ensuring every square metre serves a purpose while also contributing o a calm and inspiring environment. Visual connections between the learning spaces and the pool hall celebrate the function of each component while reinforcing the integrated, holistic approach to health, education, and wellbeing.
Stage 4: Completing the Vision
In Stage 4, we shifted from function to experience—bringing the full vision of the Coonawarra Willam Aquatic Centre to life. This included refining the architecture, material palette, and landscaping to align with the school’s values and the natural beauty of the campus. The final design champions wellbeing, connection, and identity, creating a series of space a that students, staff, and the broader community can be proud of. As the project moves toward delivery, the vision is no longer conceptual—it's tangible, and ready to support the next generation of learners and athletes.
“This world-class precinct, part of our broader commitment to holistic education, supports not just athletic excellence but also curriculum innovation and community engagement. It has already become a hub for inspiration, camaraderie, and the pursuit of excellence—bringing together students, staff, alumni, and families in a shared celebration of learning and growth.” - Gerard Foley, Principal, Ivanhoe Grammar School.
