COLLEGIAN
Published by Brisbane Boys’ College CRICOS Code 00491J
Kensington Terrace, Toowong, Queensland, 4066
T 07 3309 3500 W bbc.qld.edu.au
A SCHOOL OF THE PRESBYTERIAN AND METHODIST SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
Marketing and Communications Manager Ms Jo Belford
Editor Mr Lawson Kiehne
Graphic Designer Mr Arnold Chan
Marketing Assistant Mrs Angela Doherty
This publication is an initiative of the BBC Community Engagement Department with contributions from College Staff and the wider BBC community. The views expressed in this publication are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the College. Every effort has been made to ensure the information is correct at the time of printing.
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BBC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on and around our campus: the Turrbal people on the north side of the river and the Jagera people on the south side of the river. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.
■
■ From the Chaplain
■ A Brief History of the BBC Campus
■ Built for Boys: Unveiling Our Vision for Our Campus
■ Form Follows Function: An Interview with Graham Legerton
■ First Class: Prototyping the Future of Education
■ Good Shapes: Building Wellbeing Into the BBC Campus
■ Primary Purpose: The Master Plan Campus Vision and the Junior School
■ Senior Partners: The Master Plan Campus Vision and the Secondary School
■ Ahead of the Game: Revolutionising Sports and Activities at BBC
■ A Solid Foundation: Supporting the Next 25 Years of BBC
■ On the Shoulders of Giants: The Master Plan Campus Vision and the OCA
■ You Can Help Build the Future of BBC
■ Back in the Green, White, and Black: How Old Collegians Are Building the Future of BBC
2024 marks a significant moment in the recent history of Brisbane Boys’ College. This year, we have launched our 2024-2028 Strategic Plan, which has at its heart the ambition that “there is more than one way to thrive at BBC”. In conjunction with this manifesto, we are proud to launch our Master Plan Campus Vision, which will provide a roadmap for our historic campus in the years to come.
As Warren Buffet shares in the quote on the opposite page, it is essential that we have a vision today for what the College may look like in the future so that we can provide the best environment possible for those who follow. This does not mean that we will be immutably bound to every detail contained within this document, as the landscape of education is always evolving, and we need to be cognisant of and prepared for
From the Headmaster
MR ANDRE CASSON
these progressions. However, it does provide guardrails so that we do not launch off in a particular direction without considering its long-term viability and impact. Above all else, this Master Plan Campus Vision aligns our approach with a simple mantra: ‘built for boys’. This edition of the Collegian serves as a testament to this ambition. Moreover, it will provide readers with an understanding of the links to our strategic vision for the College. I am immensely excited and humbled by the once-in-ageneration opportunity with which our community has been blessed to chart a brilliant course for others to follow.
It is easy to be excited and inspired by a new vision for a school, particularly one that will significantly advance our campus. BBC’s new Master Plan Campus Vision acknowledges the College’s rich
history while setting our school on a path of modernisation in keeping with educational best practices. We have developed this vision in close consultation with the architectural firm Hayball and with significant input from all stakeholders in our community, including students, parents, Old Collegians, staff, and our parent body, the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association. Hayball has expertly captured the brief to develop an innovative and inspiring campus that seeks to develop those humanistic dispositions of collaboration, communication, and curiosity, to name but three, which will keep our lads one step ahead of evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. Importantly, the Vision also strengthens the link between our brilliant educators and their charges as it is these relationships that will provide our students with the best advantage on their educational journey.
Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.
WARREN BUFFETT
It has been invigorating to unpack the feedback from the Master Plan Campus Vision focus groups, both as a participant and as a final reviewer. The enthusiasm and passion expressed to the Hayball team gave them clear direction in developing our manifesto. I was particularly fortified to investigate the feedback from our remarkable students – the greatest testimony of the advantages of a Brisbane Boys’ College education. Their forthright commentary, clear vision, and passion for their school filled me with immense pride and humility. Thanks to this input, the images and analysis contained within these pages reflect the aspirations and dreams of our entire community.
I am incredibly grateful to all who generously gave their time to provide feedback and commentary for this most significant undertaking. United by shared purpose, our
community has developed a vision that will future-proof our College.
The Master Plan Campus Vision includes numerous projects that are aligned with our mission and values. Most importantly, it places the education of boys at the very centre of all decisions. The College community will quickly discover this in practice, as ten builds from the Plan are on track to be completed by the end of 2024. This is a remarkable achievement, and it is a testament to the team at BBC, who continue to work tirelessly and with great passion to provide the best environment possible for every student.
Over the coming months, we will share further information with the broader BBC community regarding the projects that will form the agenda for our 2025 undertakings and beyond. Additionally, I
look forward to discussing how community members may personally take part in realising our vision for the College campus. As with all our endeavours, this process will be informed by consultation and advice from our key stakeholders, who are our partners on this brilliant journey.
Please enjoy the insights and images contained within the pages of this edition of the Collegian They share a united vision that will consolidate our school’s future as a preeminent educator of young men. I am filled with boundless joy and wonder for what I know will be a remarkable time ahead for our amazing College.
I look forward to sharing this adventure with you all.
From the Chaplain
MR STEPHEN WARD
I remember working as a financial planner when they told us they were building a new office complex right across the road. Daily, we used to look out the window as they began to dig out the foundation of the new structure. After quite a while, it just seemed like they were getting nowhere, and day-to-day there were no visible changes. However, what they were doing was making certain the groundwork was sure, stable, and trustworthy. I don’t recall exactly how long it took to complete the foundation, but once it was finished, the building itself could be seen changing on what seemed like a daily basis. The foundation meant that growth could go ahead – and, of course, the building is standing strong to this day.
On the other hand, when I visited Malaysia recently and saw some of the more impoverished parts, it became clear that many village huts had not had the resources to build with a strong foundation and that they were falling apart so that no one could live there anymore. A few years of monsoon rains and extreme heat and humidity quickly took their toll. Such a difference to my old office building.
It reminds me that having a firm foundation for our lives – our beliefs and values – is absolutely essential for us to persevere in the face of life’s vicissitudes. Jesus spoke about this in the Gospel of Matthew.
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.
Matthew 7:24-27
The rain and torrents can represent the struggles and storms we face in life. It could be the loss of a loved one, fighting with your family, losing a job, suffering mental health issues, feeling lonely, experiencing financial stress, becoming ill or injured, dealing with an ethical dilemma, or confronting a marriage breakdown. The list is endless. But Jesus is letting us know that he offers us a foundation for our life that is more like the office building than the Malaysian village huts. He acknowledges that we will have struggles, but if we listen to his words, and follow them, we will have the strength to stand no matter what comes our way.
So, what are his words? Well, it’s easier to point you there than reproduce the New Testament here. Grab a Bible, read the Gospels and start to build a new foundation for your life. There is nothing more reliable than the word of God.
As Jesus once said, “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
A Brief History of the BBC Campus
The opening of a lone Spanish Mission-style building marked the official launch of the Toowong campus of Brisbane Boys’ College in 1931. In the more than nine decades since, many more structures have been built on the hilly contours leading down from Kensington Terrace to the flats of Toowong Creek and Moggill Road. Each addition to the campus has further expanded the breadth of experiences and opportunities for every student. This continuous evolution of academic and co-curricular spaces has kept BBC on the cutting edge of boys’ education. The following pages highlight just a handful of the many impressive upgrades our campus has undergone to respond to contemporary needs and learning trends, ensuring every boy has the opportunity to thrive.
BBC Archivist
HELEN JACKSON
28 February 1930 Foundation Stone
On 1 March 1930, a large crowd gathered to witness the Governor of Queensland, Sir John Goodwin, lay the foundation stone of BBC. A contemporary edition of The Telegraph reported that the Premier of Queensland, Arthur Edward Moore, perceptively noted that “the laying of the foundation of such a school as the Brisbane Boys’ College would probably have a tremendous effect eventually on the life of Queensland.”
16 March 1931
A little over a year later, Sir John returned to the site to officially open BBC in a historic ceremony on 16 March 1931. This first building featured a floor space of over 4,500 square metres and was of fireproof construction to ensure the safety of boarders, who were housed on the top floor. The total number of BBC students at the time was 199.
The Great Public Schools Association (GPS) commenced in 1918. Two prerequisites of maintaining status as a GPS school were the possession of a turf wicket and a football field. At BBC’s Clayfield campus, the College had neither, prompting the PMSA to find a new location. After completing the construction of Main Building, the preparation of Main Oval began. It began use in 1932 and has supported the athletic pursuits of BBC students ever since.
As enrolments approached the 300 mark, it was necessary to devote more space to school needs. Consequently, BBC’s second Headmaster, Mr Patrick Hamilton OBE, and his family moved from accommodation in Main Building into the newly built College House on Tuesday, 6 July 1937. The building remained the home of BBC’s Headmasters until 1996 and now houses the College Archives, also serving as a regular venue for the Old Collegians’ Association. 3
On 4 December 1948, BBC’s founder, Mr Arthur ‘Barney’ Rudd OBE, ceremonially began construction on the College’s War Memorial Swimming Pool by turning the first sod. The pool was built in honour of the 100 Old Collegians who were killed in action during the First and Second World Wars, along with the more than 750 who served. It was officially opened by BBC’s third Headmaster, Dr T.R. McKenzie OBE, on 3 February 1951. The pool has been continually updated ever since, including the addition of heating, which allows for comfortable use throughout the year.
The Junior School was officially opened on the same day as the swimming pool. The standalone building consisted of four rooms: one for Years 1 to 2, another for Years 3 to 4, and a room each for Years 5 and 6. An extension consisting of two new classrooms and a basement sports room was built before the start of the 1961 school year. A cloakroom and a long balcony were later additions. This building provided learning spaces tailored to young learners, an individualised approach to classroom construction that BBC has pursued ever since.
3 February
1959-1983
Hamilton, Rudd, and McKenzie Wings
13 March 1971 Dormitory
As the College continued to grow in size, new wings were intermittently built to accommodate increasingly larger cohorts, each named after one of BBC’s first three Headmasters and offering new facilities to expand the College’s offerings. Hamilton Wing was the first to open in 1959, containing classrooms, a library, and a staffroom. Rudd Wing followed in 1963, serving as a critically needed Science block consisting of senior and junior Physics labs, a senior Chemistry lab, a darkroom, and a lecture theatre, with three classrooms on the top floor. McKenzie Wing opened in 1983, providing eight classrooms, four Science laboratories, and landscaped courtyard areas. Upon its completion, the McKenzie Wing was the recipient of a prestigious design award.
One of the more dramatic events in the history of the campus occurred in 1971. On Saturday, 13 March, while the boarders were at the GPS Swimming Carnival, a fire destroyed two dormitories at BBC. One was the historically important timber-framed house, Mallow. The blaze also claimed a second dormitory connected by a covered walkway, which had been completed only 18 months prior. The boys lost everything: uniforms, clothes, books, and assignments. However, by 5:00pm, the BBC community had rallied, and all boarders had been placed in private accommodation.
22 September 1979 Original College Hall
On 22 September 1979, the original College Hall was officially opened by Queensland Governor Sir James Ramsay. This addition provided a space for the BBC community to comfortably gather for special events and Assemblies, as well as student-led dramatic productions. George Bernard Shaw’s Androcles and the Lion was the first Senior Production to use the new stage, followed by the Junior School’s presentation of The Pirates of Penzance.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson officially opened the Barbara Helen Thomson Sports Complex on 29 August 1987. The large physical education centre features numerous spaces for classes, co-curricular activities, and sporting competitions. The building was later renovated to include a state-ofthe-art gymnasium with FIG-approved equipment that has since been used as a training base for professional teams visiting Brisbane from overseas.
Thomson Court and Halls of Residence, named in honour of BBC’s fifth Headmaster, Mr Graham Thomson AM, were opened on 25 November 1989 by Sir James Foots, Chancellor of The University of Queensland. The new facility housed 85 boarders and five resident staff, containing a kitchen, dining room, laundry, and eight-bed hospital.
Constructed by Hutchinson Builders, whose leadership includes Old Collegian Mr Scott Hutchinson (OC 1976), the College’s Information Resource Centre was opened on 10 March 1996 by Queensland Governor Leneen Forde. The multi-faceted and flexible space was designed to house library resources, a lecture theatre, and computer facilities. These investments placed BBC in an ideal position to make the most of the internet boom and the digital revolution at the turn of the millennium.
29 March 2003
Old Collegians’ Pavilion
The Old Collegians’ Pavilion was envisaged as part of BBC’s centenary celebrations and was officially opened the following year on 29 March 2003. Funded by the donations of Old Boys, the Pavilion serves as a place where alumni can gather and reminisce about their sporting heroics. An extensive kitchen is available on the upper floor to cater for various functions. It also includes practical spaces such as change rooms and a canteen for use during sporting events on the ovals.
When younger Collegians returned to start the 2008 school year, a new tailor-made Junior School Precinct was there to meet them. Although the project was completed in January, the official opening didn’t occur until 19 May 2008. It was presided over by former BBC parent and Governor of Queensland Dame Quentin Bryce barely a month after the announcement of her impending appointment as Governor-General of Australia.
8 June 2011
A central focus within the school, BBC’s new College Hall was officially opened on 8 June 2011 by the Governor of Queensland, Penelope Wensley. The Hall’s seating comfortably accommodates 750 people while the building at large contains well-appointed classrooms; private tuition areas; designated spaces for voice, strings, guitar, and percussion; a recording studio; and the spacious Earl Larmar Recital Room named in honour of the eponymous Old Collegian from the Class of 1961.
Another key space in College Hall is a custom-built art gallery featuring an extensive selection of original artwork generously bequeathed by Old Collegian Mr Phil Bisset (OC 1939). The gallery is a lasting reminder of Mr Bisset’s desire to spread his love of art to enrich the lives of future generations of students. It is also used for academic purposes as part of the College’s Art program. The gallery is maintained by the BBC Foundation and dedicated to the memory of Mr Bisset’s parents. The College is the only school in Brisbane with a resource of this kind.
A major overhaul of Main Oval took place in 2013 thanks to the generous bequest of Old Collegian Mr John Noblet (OC 1942). Substantial improvements were made to the then-81-year-old field over a year-long refurbishment that included excavation, laser levelling, stormwater and agricultural drainage construction, and the installation of a computerised irrigation system. The field was formally renamed Noblet Oval on 25 September 2013 in recognition of Mr Noblet’s support.
25 September 2013 Noblet Oval
The purpose-built Middle School Precinct was envisaged as a flexible place of learning to meet the needs of students in a world where rapid advances in technology have become a fact of life. The building also serves as a connecting link between the Junior and Senior School Precincts. It was officially opened on 21 May 2014 by the Minister for Education, Training, and Employment of Queensland, John-Paul Langbroek.
Built for boys: unveiling the future of our campus
Headmaster
MR ANDRE CASSON
A school’s campus is of profound importance. The space in which young people learn has a significant impact on the quality of their education and their sense of belonging. A thoughtfully designed schooling environment is paramount in ensuring the best possible outcomes for every student.
Our long legacy of expanding and refining our facilities ensures that we continue to provide a learning journey that is of the highest standard. Now, after almost a century of growth and improvement, I am delighted to unveil a magnificent new chapter in our campus’ story as we continue our mission to give every boy the opportunity to thrive.
BREAKING NEW GROUND
When I commenced as BBC’s tenth Headmaster at the beginning of 2022, I knew that we stood at a crucial crossroads in the development of our College and its facilities. It was clear that we had a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our campus and, in doing so, enhance the BBC journey for every student. BBC’s staff shared my enthusiasm for this prospect, as did our parent organisation, the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA).
As we set to work developing a new Master Plan Campus Vision for the College, we did so with the determination to seize this opportunity with gusto, but we knew we couldn’t do it alone. During the development of the Master Plan Campus Vision, BBC consulted
extensively with all stakeholders, from current students and Old Collegians to College staff and current families. In addition, we have worked with numerous experts across a variety of fields to inform our approach in the areas of strategic planning, sustainability, traffic flow, and much more.
This period of consultation was extensive and vital. Nobody knows our campus better than the students who walk its grounds every day, the staff who teach in its classrooms, the Old Collegians who remember it with passionate affection, and the parents who pored over every detail as they decided on the best school for their child. There are no more qualified experts on the strengths of our College and the ways we can improve and thrive than those who live and breathe the Green, White, and Black.
Thanks to this consultative approach, we have been able to build a vision for the future of BBC that is highly refined and keenly honed, answering the needs of all in our community. For example, feedback from teachers indicated a passion for flexible learning spaces, which influenced our approach to classroom development, while the input of students and Old Collegians has inspired a schoolwide revitalisation of the unique character and identity of the BBC campus. By taking our time and establishing an open dialogue with our community, the Master Plan Campus Vision has been built as a blueprint for achieving our greatest and most deeply felt aspirations as a College.
To give those aspirations form, we have partnered with the awardwinning architecture firm Hayball. One of the things that stood out about Hayball was their passion and their commitment to understanding our perspective. The process has been further enhanced by the industry experience of our Advisory Council, which includes Mr Don O’Rorke, one of Queensland’s leading property developers; Ms Kirsti Simpson, an expert in workplace architecture who is also an Adjunct Professor at The University of Queensland’s School of Architecture, Design, and Planning; and Mr Hamish Turner OAM, who played a key role in preparing venues for the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Few other schools can count themselves that lucky.
THIS IS COLLEGE
Whether you have just joined BBC this year or have been a part of our community since well before my tenure, you have no doubt heard me speak of BBC as a place where every boy has the chance to thrive in all their endeavours. I see this as the Rosetta Stone to the culture and attitude that makes our College so unique. Through our three-dimensional approach to academics, our unwavering commitment to student wellbeing, and the many co-curricular sports and activities on offer, our school is a launching pad for every boy to be the person they want to be, have the career they want to have, and lead the life they want to live. As the Master Plan Campus Vision developed, that ethos was at the forefront of our efforts.
The Master Plan Campus Vision supports and enhances the whole College: academics, co-curricular sports and activities, boarding, administration, and outdoor spaces. It offers meaningful upgrades to each aspect of the student journey and provides staff with all the tools and classroom equipment they need to support and respond to every boy on an individual level.
The ability to facilitate an individualised approach is a crucial aspect of our goals with the Master Plan Campus Vision. A school is not a factory line, and no two boys are alike. It is important to us to unlock opportunities for staff and students across our campus, allowing them to capitalise on moments of inspiration. By building a flexible approach into our facilities, the
same spaces can be used in vastly different ways. It allows teachers to tailor their lessons to support the latest innovations in education and pedagogy, supporting each student in accordance with their own unique needs and interests. This will infuse our identity, values, and aspirations into the bricks and mortar of the campus itself.
At BBC, all our endeavours are focused on providing a comprehensive, high-quality education for our students, and this Master Plan will aid us in that mission. It will enhance how our teachers teach and how our students learn, delivering agile and contemporary learning assets. The potential of this excites me more than I can describe.
This diagram is part of the supporting Landscape Master Plan
THINK BIG, SEE FAR
I am proud to confirm that BBC’s new Master Plan Campus Vision is scoped through to 2035, with the Campus Vision extended to 2050. Over 40 projects have been identified and costed. We chose these timeframes because they allow us to be visionary and apply principles of strong stewardship, taking into account the College’s financial profile, operational costs, predicted inflation, and fundraising and donation opportunities over the Vision's life cycle.
We have also taken care to build in flexibility along the way. A lot may happen in the field of education by 2050, and while we cannot predict the future, we can prepare for it. The identified projects have permanent relevance to our school’s future, and by building them, we will free up space to explore new opportunities as they arise in the years to come. This responsible stewardship was a vital component of our approach to the development of the Master Plan Campus Vision.
The improvements and benefits of the Master Plan Campus Vision are numerous and extensive. I look forward to discussing them in greater detail as time goes by, but key building works include renovations to existing buildings and expansions of facilities like the Boarding House and the Barbara Helen Thomson Sports Complex to maximise their potential. The introduction of new social spaces for the boys to congregate, along with the rectification and enhancement of green areas, will improve the campus experience for all students.
Major new builds envisaged include a state-of-the-art sporting facility, allowing us to level up our cocurricular offerings. Additionally, we have successfully rezoned the land behind Goldicott House leading down towards P&F Oval to become part of our campus, allowing us to utilise this space while preserving the heritage and historical integrity of the Goldicott building itself. This newly available area will be the site of a significant project: a new building with cutting-edge classroom facilities and a variety of other functions.
Each project in the Master Plan Campus Vision has been carefully chosen and designed. Each has its own value proposition, which is informed by consultation with our community. It’s a tightly woven blueprint, with each improvement unlocking further opportunities throughout the campus. This is a key element of the Master Plan’s design: different changes and upgrades facilitate others, with the end result being a comprehensive transformation of our campus. In this way, we maximise the value of our existing assets and ensure that our students retain access to all the amenities they need without disruption as the Vision is implemented.
THE FIRST TEN PROJECTS
Another essential aspect of the Master Plan Campus Vision was to ensure that it delivered tangible benefits at a regular pace. To that end, I’m happy to confirm that the first ten projects will be completed by the end of 2024. In fact, some are already complete, while others are well underway.
1. The Rooftop Terrace
A transformation of the terrace above Birtles Library into an appealing new social space for the boys.
The resurfacing of our tennis courts and the replacement of fencing to refresh and renew our competitionclass venue.
2. Tennis Court Refurbishment
3. Junior Tennis Court Refurbishment
Our Junior School’s tennis courts will be resurfaced and refreshed.
4. Boarding House Stage 5 Refurbishment
The final stage in our ongoing refurbishment of the Boarding House to maximise student comfort.
A renovation of the Boarding House Dining Hall with enhanced kitchen facilities and a welcoming space for boarders to eat their meals.
A breakout space with shaded seating that will enhance the aesthetic of the Boarding House courtyard.
6. Boarding House Dining Hall Deck
5. Boarding House Dining Hall Refurbishment
8. Middle School Landscape
A revitalisation of the outdoor space bordering the Middle School and the new Prototype Classrooms, with the addition of extra seating and new sports courts for casual use at lunchtime.
7. Cricket Training Facility
An enhanced consolidation of our cricket facilities around the nets on Noblet Oval with additional infrastructure.
9. Additional Noblet Oval Seating
The addition of new bleachers on Noblet Oval, essentially tripling the seating capacity for spectators.
10. Prototype Classrooms
Our Prototype Classrooms will allow our staff to workshop new teaching approaches that will inform the future development of classroom space elsewhere on the campus. I strongly recommend that readers take a look at Dr Leigh Hobart’s article later in this magazine, where she discusses the exciting opportunities the Prototype Classrooms offer in greater depth.
SPACES THAT INSPIRE
Beyond new buildings and refurbishments to existing ones, we are also taking the opportunity to enhance the connectivity of our campus. Over the 93 years that we have occupied our current location, our buildings have expanded from nothing more than what is now Main Building to a huge variety of locations across hectares of space. That growth has occurred gradually when the need arose, and the byproduct of that has been a campus geography that can be confusing for newcomers to navigate. As the Master Plan Campus Vision is implemented, we’ll be able to restore clarity to the site, resulting in a legible and intuitive layout.
This will be accomplished in several ways. The ongoing delivery of the Master Plan Campus Vision will free up space where none currently exists, but we are also preparing a comprehensive overhaul of our parking facilities, which will result in a more cohesive parking plan with less obstruction to pedestrians.
These developments, alongside updates to the entrances of our campus, will allow us to create clear and easily navigable thoroughfares across our school. One of the most important of these will be a spine leading from the new building on the rezoned Goldicott land to the creek at the Junior School, linking and uniting each sub-school along the way. It’s no coincidence that, when observed from a bird’s eye view, these new thoroughfares will resemble a tartan pattern.
This streamlining will allow us to highlight the iconic elements of our campus by honouring existing vistas and building new ones. For instance, no matter where you are on our grounds, you will be able to see the clock tower. This is in keeping with another key aspect of the Master Plan Campus Vision, which is to bridge our history and our future in a way that respects our heritage and tradition. By combining this rich well of history with our ambitions in the present, we will
craft a campus that embodies our spirit and character as a community and maintains and reinforces the BBC identity. These design approaches will coalesce in a complete overhaul of our campus signage, as well as the installation of a new set of main gates, further reclarifying the campus’ layout while paying homage to the iconography that has inspired generations of students.
Concept proposal for Moggill Road entrance
WHERE NATURE MEETS NURTURE
As a College, we are very aware that an undertaking of this magnitude must be conducted with the appropriate respect for the natural environment in which we reside. Great care has been taken to ensure that none of the Master Plan Campus Vision projects negatively impact the campus’ biodiversity. In fact, we intend to do the opposite by reemphasising the natural elements of our school, which can then be better
incorporated into our students’ academic experience through initiatives such as outdoor learning. We are also taking the opportunity to level up our campus’ capacity for sustainability, ensuring our school is an environmentally responsible space that coexists with the world around it rather than dominating it. It was also crucial to us that BBC’s ongoing development pay respect to First Nations’ heritage and
history. It is important to us that we embrace the story of the land on which our school sits, and to that end, we have consulted extensively with Burrundi Design Studio. Burrundi is an expert consulting firm specialising in preserving and maintaining connections to Country in building projects. Their input in this area has been invaluable.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME
If there’s one thing we wanted to ensure when the development of this Master Plan Campus Vision began, it was that this blueprint for the future of our school was community-led. For us to truly realise the potential available to us at this crucial juncture in our College’s history, a highly collaborative approach was called for, one that embraced the different needs, wants, and passions of our community. Now, as I consider the final outcome, I believe we have been successful in that goal. This isn’t my Master Plan Campus Vision. It isn’t the BBC staff’s Master Plan Campus Vision. It is yours.
I’m often told by Old Boys that if you’ve been a BBC student for just one day, then you’re BBC for life. This passion for our College and its community is a testament to how special this place is and its
extraordinary impact on the boys who pass through its gates on their journeys to becoming Gentlemen of Honour. During my time here, I have seen first-hand how that passion is mirrored by students’ families and by our staff. This level of loyalty is, to put it mildly, unusual. It is rare for a school to inspire that kind of communal bond. It is a bond my colleagues and I are privileged to foster and preserve, and it is in service to that bond that this Master Plan Campus Vision has been designed.
The scope of what we have envisioned is immense, and it is already providing real and tangible benefits to our students at this very moment. As our community stands together at the beginning of this exciting new era for the College, there is no doubt in my mind that the journey ahead will be one of
achievement and prosperity. BBC is a school where there is more than one way to thrive, a place where students become the men they want to be, no matter their talents, interests, or passions. That is our purpose, our calling, our reason for being. I can say without hesitation that this transformative Master Plan Campus Vision will allow us to deliver on that mission for generations to come.
This is the future of BBC, and it’s built for boys.
Form follows function: An interview with graham legerton
A TALENTED GROUP OF EDUCATION DESIGN
SPECIALISTS FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL
PRACTICE HAYBALL HAVE BEEN WORKING
DILIGENTLY ON THE MASTER PLAN CAMPUS
VISION FOR MANY MONTHS. TO GAIN GREATER
INSIGHT INTO THEIR PROCESS, WE SAT DOWN WITH MR GRAHAM LEGERTON, HAYBALL’S
PRINCIPAL FOR EDUCATION, TO DISCUSS HOW HE AND HIS TEAM HAVE APPROACHED THE PROJECT.
BBC: Tell us a little bit about your background. BBC families will recall that you were on the Advisory Council, but your specialty is in education design, isn’t it?
GL: That’s right, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Council, which provided a great insight into the daily life of the College and the rich history of BBC. My professional mainstay has been a focus on education design, a focus on working with communities and maximising learning opportunities for schoolchildren and tertiary students. It’s a passion, definitely, without question, and the entire
Hayball team share this ethos. I love working in this space. Every school is different; every university is different. It’s very much a long-term relationship approach. So, you’re becoming a member of the community through deep listening, collaboration, and co-creation. You’re there for the best interests of the school and the children and their learning, and that overrides everything.
GL: We had to try to really understand the unique attributes of BBC that can inform decisions. There’s a wonderful heritage, as an example, and over the years, buildings may have crowded that a little bit. Goldicott House was also purchased, which is a consideration in terms of the connectivity of the campus from Goldicott Hill to the creek. Topography and terrain are obviously significant at BBC as well, so there were some practical considerations like that at front of mind. Critically, we also wanted to address the need for contemporary learning spaces and to respond to the diverse needs of the boys, the staff, and the BBC community. The Master Plan Campus Vision envisages a cascade of buildings from Goldicott Hill to the creek. This
BBC: What were the primary objectives and goals that drove your approach to the Master Plan Campus Vision?
enables the progressive delivery of new learning environments that are intrinsically connected to the existing College, ovals, outdoor settings, and campus vistas, all whilst respectfully building away from neighbouring dwellings. The Master Plan Campus Vision also considers many nuances, such as emphasising the uniqueness of the Pipe Band, acknowledging the importance of boarding, ensuring the inclusion of food options, transforming event offerings, providing greater staff amenities, and building a new Chapel and Gallery.
To answer it in a line, a master plan must be holistically considered. It’s not just one thing. I really stress that a good master plan is an agile
and flexible framework because things change. Learning changes, pedagogy changes, financial conditions change, construction prices change. So, we need to have an agile framework that will address all of those things and really expand the amazing foundations in terms of history and the existing stock and landscape amenity of the College. Importantly, I think the Master Plan Campus Vision strikes a sustainable balance of new and revitalised works of various scales.
GL: Great question. We’ve had lots of discussions with the Advisory Council about the values and how the Master Plan Campus Vision needs to respond to every boy. Again, every boy is different; every school is different.
The Prototype Classrooms project will be an absolutely fundamental part of this initial Master Plan Campus Vision implementation. So, moving forward, learnings and data can enrich the brief for new builds and further refurbishment projects in
BBC: How does the design incorporate BBC’s values and educational philosophy?
BBC:
Tell us about the academic spaces you’ve been designing.You’ve already touched on the Prototype Classrooms, but how do you see the Master Plan Campus Vision, overall, supporting teachers and students in the classroom?
GL: We need to think beyond classrooms. That’d be the first thing I’d say. There will be multiple learning modalities within what we prefer to call learning communities, internally and externally. It’s about the amalgamation of various spaces
the years to come. Pedagogy never sits still. It’s never frozen. It will always be evolving and changing. Technologies will change, and different learning demands will come in for the boys, so the space needs to be agile and flexible and give different affordances. We feel the Prototype Classrooms are a fundamental part of this Master Plan Campus Vision's initiation and implementation. In part, it also makes great use of the residual value of the McKenzie building. We’re not constructing a new
building to enable these Prototype Classrooms. We’re actually testing and re-imagining existing classroom spaces, which will also help us to revitalise and transform other existing spaces in the College. It’s an incredibly important piece of work culturally, educationally, socially, environmentally, and fiscally, which has been co-created with the staff.
with more specialist spaces as well. So, we’re seeking to get a good dispersion of specialist spaces across the campus to enrich the different precincts. That’s very important. There will be some immediate needs addressed in these initial works, as I mentioned with the Prototype Classrooms. But beyond that, as we add new assets, we can transform general and specialist offerings whilst unlocking other aspects of the campus. Students will be learning in more agile, adaptable, flexible, contemporary environments with fewer constraints. So, the Master Plan Campus Vision will progressively transform the experience for everyone using the College.
BBC: What about the new and refurbished facilities for sports and activities? What kind of new opportunities are they going to provide for the boys?
GL: We acknowledge there’s a tremendous sporting history at BBC. I think in terms of the sports and activities, it’s really embedded in the Master Plan Campus Vision how assets will engage with those wonderful open green spaces, events, and activities. I think the other key thing is we’re really seeking to create more open space for the boys. As the school grows, the boys need that space. So, what we’re trying to do is create a diversity of spaces of different
scales that can be used for a multitude of things. So, it gives BBC a lot more flexibility. And I guess it comes back to the boys again, you know? Different boys will need different things. There will be retreat landscapes; there will be larger sporting ovals and activity spaces that will be enriched. Everybody’s different; their needs are different. So, there will be a diversity of choices there depending on what interests and activities the boys want to undertake.
BBC: Another big part of the Master Plan Campus Vision is promoting a connected and united campus and cutting through some of the complicated geography we currently have. Could you tell us more about that process?
GL: Yes, I think that’s really at the heart of the vision, to be honest, because you’re absolutely right. At the moment, there are considerable level changes from Goldicott Hill down to the creek and even traversing from Noblet to Miskin. In both of those orientations, we’re seeking to utilise new assets, landscapes, connections, and walkways to improve the legibility and simplicity of traversing the campus. Back towards Main
Building, there are key junctions that need to be simplified and have greater legibility of connection, which will vastly transform the College. The strategic placement of new lifts to complement existing ones is also key to providing an accessible and inclusive campus.
BBC: Honouring BBC’s heritage and preserving the Green, White, and Black character of the campus has been another important component. How has that challenge been approached?
GL: The biodiversity of the campus is critical. We’ve had very deep conversations with Indigenous consultancies, as well, to inform this, and a Landscape Master Plan has also been developed in parallel. We’re seeking to preserve and enhance the creek and the bushlands adjacent to Goldicott House and to increase the provision
GL: In terms of the terrace that we’ve completed already, you’ll see how the Green, White, and Black have been implemented there in the finishes and the furnishings and the roof coverings. It’s coming through. I think that there are great opportunities, as refurbishments and new builds continue, to maintain that consistency, further building on the history and culture of BBC.
I think the other thing is allowing the heritage to breathe. I can’t emphasise that enough. For instance, some of those spaces towards the rear of the terrace of Main Building have been built in over the years. We’re seeking to open those back out and reinstate the original shaded areas to bring back that long-standing history to the fore. But the Master Plan Campus Vision also goes beyond physical change. It’s about experiences and further embracing the BBC way.
BBC: As a school, we’re quite lucky to have some really diverse natural spaces, including the creek and some bushland. We’ve recently incorporated some of the rezoned land from Goldicott into our campus as well. How do these green spaces factor into the ongoing development of the campus?
of learning landscapes within the campus as we progressively open out open spaces. We’re very lucky that we have those established
assets, and we’re seeking to preserve, enhance, and engage with them as much as possible.
BBC: Is there anything else you’d like to really emphasise for the BBC community?
GL: I think that it’s important that there’s been a very deep consultation process on this Master Plan Campus Vision. We’ve spoken to the boys at length, the staff, the Old Collegians, the Executive, members of the community, members of the Council. The highlight of that process was the sessions with the boys. We
witnessed their passion for the College and the importance they place on culture and inclusion. We’ve also undertaken building visits. As a collective team, we are all aware of the importance of being good custodians of such a unique opportunity. And things are being done; things are being implemented. They’ve come from conversations. They’ve not just come from a singular viewpoint. As we go forward, what I’d really like to emphasise is that every project will be informed by deep consultation.
I’d like to commend the Headmaster and the Executive as well. This willingness to be so open and to consult widely is not always the case in schools. This Master Plan Campus Vision has been created with a tremendous amount of contribution from the BBC community, and the leadership have enabled that to occur, and that’s tremendous. Because it’s not ours, it’s not the Executive’s. It’s for the boys, that’s the most important thing.
First Class: Prototyping the Future of Education
Deputy Headmaster –Academic Performance and Innovation
DR LEIGH HOBART
THE
BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO CREATE IT.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Preparing for the Future
In today’s rapidly evolving world, preparing for the future isn’t just about acknowledging change – it's about actively shaping it. Preparing for the future means taking the best of what we know today and innovating towards a preferred tomorrow. While our Master Plan Campus Vision incorporates many components of this vision, a key element is our commitment to our new Prototype Classrooms, which will open in Term 4, 2024. Available for booking by any teacher for any class, these rooms allow students to experience
different spaces, furniture, and layouts to discover how their learning environments can further support their education. The most successful elements of these trials will be embedded more widely into our new and refurbished classrooms as part of the Master Plan Campus Vision. These spaces will be dynamic environments carefully evaluated and meticulously crafted to nurture creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration – the essential human skills students need to thrive today and into the future.
Benefits of Our Prototype Classrooms
A student’s classroom environment provides far more than a simple backdrop to learning. Many modern theorists consider the environment to act as a ‘third teacher’ to the learner, the other two being educators and families. The Prototype Classrooms promise to embrace this and create transformative benefits for all students and staff.
Personalised and Flexible Learning: Spaces will continuously evolve to meet the needs of students, reflecting the feedback and analytics that students, staff, and families provide to enhance learning. They will provide flexibility in how we teach and allow us to see what optimises the learning experience for boys and staff before investing in developing classroom spaces in the Master Plan.
Enhanced Engagement and Skill Development: Imagine a classroom where learning isn’t confined to textbooks but extends into immersive experiences to maximise the impact on learners. Our Prototype Classrooms feature interactive spaces, multimedia resources, and cutting-edge technologies. These innovations allow learning to be captivating and relevant, sparking curiosity and engagement among students whilst developing skills that are essential for success in today’s interconnected world.
Creating a Sense of Belonging: Our Prototype Classrooms are designed to break down barriers and expand horizons. A key focus is collaboration so that students can learn and grow collectively. Through connectivity and collaboration, students gain access to educational opportunities beyond the traditional teacher-student interaction. This allows students a sense of ownership over their education, strengthening their sense of belonging.
Heeding the Research
Pedagogical research strongly supports this approach. Professor John Hattie’s extensive meta-analysis on visible learning provides a compelling roadmap for advancing educational spaces. Embracing innovative learning environments not only enhances learning outcomes but also unlocks numerous opportunities for educational excellence.
Empowering Effective Teaching Practices: Our Prototype Classrooms will incorporate a range of furniture, designs, and technology to personalise student learning and enable teachers to test different environments and pedagogies. By embracing student feedback and incorporating it into future campus development, we’ll amplify the effectiveness of teaching strategies, fostering continuous growth and academic success.
Fostering High Engagement and Motivation: Student engagement is nurtured through interactive resources and multimedia tools in our Prototype Classrooms. These innovations create dynamic learning environments where students actively participate and explore, igniting their curiosity and driving intrinsic motivation. By fostering a culture of engagement, we encourage and empower students to take ownership of their learning journey and achieve their fullest potential.
Promoting Collaboration in Education: To ensure that every student has the tools and opportunities to thrive academically, our Prototype Classrooms have been designed to foster interaction and collaboration. Hattie indicates that classroom discussion, peer influence, and peer tutoring all have positive impacts on learning beyond the traditional classroom. By prioritising inclusivity and collaboration, we strengthen our educational community and cultivate a supportive environment where all learners can succeed
Navigating the Future
Just as travellers equipped with outdated maps struggle to navigate modern roads, students and teachers in traditional classrooms face challenges in a rapidly evolving educational landscape. Our Prototype Classrooms act as updated maps with GPS capabilities, providing real-time guidance, flexibility, interactive features, and adaptive routes to ensure students are prepared to navigate the complexities of the future with confidence and competence.
The Master Plan at BBC embodies a paradigm shift in educational environments, leveraging collaborative and flexible spaces designed to enhance learning experiences according to the latest research and what has been proven to work.
Strategic Alignment and Prototype Classrooms
It has long been known that boys learn best through active learning, where they are engaged and inspired. Our learning project aligns closely with the school’s Strategic Plan, emphasising a shift towards personalised, flexible learning environments. This encourages a blend of structured learning and creative exploration, fostering both focus during quiet study times and dynamic interaction during group projects.
Design and Community Engagement
The design cleverly caters to student needs and also acknowledges the requirements of our talented teachers, providing spaces that accommodate varying work styles and preferences. This inclusive approach will be complemented by extensive stakeholder engagement, ensuring decisions are evidence-based and responsive to our community’s needs. This process not only supports current pedagogical needs but also serves as a platform for testing and evolving future teaching methodologies. The project’s collaborative nature has already fostered enthusiasm within the College community, reflecting a commitment to placing our students’ learning at the forefront of educational innovation.
Leading the Way Forward
At BBC, we are not just building classrooms; we are shaping the future of education and creating a powerful place of academic wellbeing. Our Prototype Classrooms represent a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence in learning. By embracing personalised learning, flexibility, inclusivity, and enhanced engagement through technology, we are preparing our students not just for today but for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we are charting a course towards a future where every learner can thrive, innovate, and lead. With our Prototype Classrooms, we are not just visible – we are visionary, pioneering a new era of educational excellence for our community and beyond.
Good shapes: building wellbeing into the bbc campus
Deputy Headmaster – Student Wellbeing (P-12)
MR SCOTT MURPHY
At Brisbane Boys’ College, student wellbeing is a defining component of our endeavours to help every boy succeed to his full potential. We know that students who are happy, healthy, safe, and engaged will flourish academically and socially. The upcoming campus development in our Master Plan Campus Vision promises to elevate our wellbeing efforts to unprecedented levels. By complementing our new facilities with our Tartan+ Wellbeing Model, we aim to create an environment where students can truly thrive. This approach will not only benefit our students but also position BBC as a leader in academic wellbeing both in Australia and globally.
BBC has a rich history as a forward-thinking school, and our new state-of-the-art wellbeing centre, enhanced learning spaces, and innovative facilities will support world-class teaching and learning, ensuring that every student can excel in a supportive environment. Our forward-focused vision aims to build a culture that prioritises healthy masculinity, faith, wellbeing, excellence, and an exceptional education. By putting our students at the forefront of innovative change, we as a school community can lead by example with clear purpose and intention, redefining what it means to inspire boys to create their own bright futures and become life-long learners.
A Campus Built for Wellbeing
The Master Plan Campus Vision includes several new and improved facilities directly relevant to BBC’s wellbeing portfolio. Among these, the construction of a state-of-theart Wellbeing Centre stands out. This Centre will serve as a hub for our Tartan+ program, offering dedicated spaces for counselling and community support.
The Wellbeing Centre will be equipped with sensory rooms designed to help boys manage stress and anxiety. These rooms will feature adjustable lighting, calming colours, and comfortable furnishings, providing a safe haven for students needing a moment of respite. Furthermore, the Centre will house spaces for group sessions, workshops, and seminars on various aspects of mental health and wellbeing for the community.
Importantly, the Master Plan Campus Vision includes enhanced outdoor spaces. We aim to create more inclusive green areas, such as gardens and quiet zones, where
students can reconnect with nature. These spaces will offer a peaceful retreat from academic pressures. According to Harvard University’s Project Zero, “The physical environment significantly influences learning, behaviour, and overall wellbeing.”
Additionally, spaces for year levels and Houses to meet have been deeply considered. These areas provide opportunities for students to grow their tribe, experience success, present and collaborate, and build their capacity in essential soft skills. These skills will define them as they journey through a rapidly changing world.
Best practice pedagogy and purpose-built spaces will ensure boys have everything they need to thrive while fostering a sense of community. We are creating a holistic environment that nurtures the wellbeing of our students, setting a new benchmark for schools around the world.
Credit: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Learning space/s
Pedagogy
Learner
Educator/s (teachers / other pupils)
The Science of a Learning Space
Research in environmental psychology underscores how physical spaces profoundly impact mental and emotional wellbeing. Well-designed environments not only reduce stress and enhance cognitive function but also boost overall wellness. Clinical psychologist Andrew Fuller emphasises that “a sense of belonging is fundamental to our wellbeing,” and it is the biggest precursor to preventing suicide, violence, and drug addiction.
At BBC, we apply these principles to create functional and visually appealing environments that promote both learning and emotional health among all students. By integrating evidencebased practices into the design of our school facilities, the Master Plan Campus Vision supports students’ academic, emotional, and social development. A key part of this process will be incorporating discoveries from the use of the Prototype Classrooms into future campus development, allowing
us to hone and refine wellbeing support based on real-world data.
Working with First Nations consultants has enriched our vision of the future, ensuring our facilities honour cultural heritage. This inclusive approach recognises cultural perspectives in shaping spaces that foster holistic wellbeing. With this blueprint, we invest in students to empower them so they can make a positive impact beyond the College portals, contributing to a better world.
Meaningful Benefits for Every Boy
The new and enhanced facilities in the Master Plan Campus Vision offer numerous tangible benefits for all students. Firstly, the dedicated Wellbeing Centre will provide a centralised location for all allied health services, making it easier for students to access the support they need. The availability of sensory spaces and therapeutic areas for every BBC student will ensure that they have the resources to manage their wellbeing proactively, which is vital in ensuring they have every opportunity to thrive.
Additionally, the Vision includes upgraded sporting facilities, which are essential for promoting physical health and wellness among our
A Leading Light
The implementation of the Master Plan Campus Vision will enhance student wellbeing and position BBC as a leader in academic wellbeing. By adopting global best practices and integrating them into our campus design, we are setting a new standard for student support in Australia.
Well-known academic institutions around the globe have integrated wellbeing into their educational frameworks. Our commitment to a nurturing environment is vital for families who value holistic education and comprehensive wellbeing support. The emphasis on wellbeing
students. By providing first-class amenities, we not only promote physical health but also contribute to the overall mental and emotional wellbeing of our students. These facilities rival those of any great school, preparing our students to face all challenges with confidence. Supporting boys to excel involves providing them with the skills and environments they need to thrive. The integration of flexible and innovative learning spaces, cutting-edge technology, readily accessible wellness resources, spaces to build community, and collaborative learning opportunities through specific designs ensures that BBC students are equipped
for success in the classroom and beyond. Additionally, aligning these facilities with the Tartan+ Wellbeing Model provides a holistic approach to student wellbeing. Tartan+ focuses on personalised support and development, which will greatly benefit from these enhanced infrastructures. With dedicated spaces for the various activities, this multi-faceted approach to support can expand our offerings and provide more targeted support for students. These purpose-built facilities ensure that students are prepared for the challenges they may encounter on their educational journey.
in our Master Plan Campus Vision reflects a broader educational trend recognising the importance of mental and emotional health in academic success.
The Master Plan Campus Vision will position BBC as an industry leader in holistic education, ensuring all students are well-equipped to thrive in all aspects of life.
of Junior School
Primary Purpose: The Master Plan
Campus Vision and the Junior School
Head
MRS SUMMA TODD
The unveiling of the new Master Plan Campus Vision marks a significant moment in the BBC journey for the Junior School boys, who will greatly benefit from the upcoming developments. At Brisbane Boys’ College, we have established the Junior School as a learning
environment known for its commitment to fostering the physical, social, and academic development of young men. This Master Plan Campus Vision aims to transform learning environments, turning BBC into a hub of innovation and holistic development.
Early Learning and Outdoor Play Spaces
The highlight of the Master Plan Campus Vision for the youngest members of the College is the emphasis on early learning and outdoor play spaces. Play is integral to early childhood development, and the Master Plan Campus Vision will create and enhance age-appropriate and stimulating environments tailored to support this style of learning. The new outdoor play areas will be designed to cater
Nature Play and Risky Play
Nature play and risky play are critical components of the new outdoor spaces proposed in the Master Plan Campus Vision. Junior School nature play areas will feature rock-hopping and adventure courses along the creek bed, providing boys with the opportunity to explore and take risks in a controlled environment. These activities are designed to encourage a sense of adventure and curiosity, building resilience, problem-solving skills, and physical coordination.
specifically to Junior School age groups, ensuring that each boy has the opportunity to engage in activities that are both enjoyable and developmentally beneficial.
Outdoor play spaces will feature a blend of active play zones, retreat areas, and creative spaces. This variety will allow boys to explore, create, and relax, cultivating a balanced approach to learning and play.
Sports Spaces
The Master Plan Campus Vision includes sports spaces designed to foster physical fitness and teamwork, which are important for growing boys. The oval spaces are intended to be accessed by all the boys of the College. These areas will provide opportunities for various sports and physical activities, ensuring that every student has the chance to engage in regular exercise and develop his athletic skills. We are excited by the opportunities these spaces will provide for the Junior School boys in their co-curricular pursuits.
Outdoor Learning Spaces
BBC’s Master Plan Campus Vision also emphasises the integration of outdoor learning spaces into the curriculum. The proposed spaces will offer opportunities for experiential learning, such as monitoring water quality after storms, collecting water data, and studying local flora and fauna. This hands-on approach to learning promotes a deeper connection to the natural world and enhances boys’ understanding of environmental science.
Junior School Projects
In 2023, the decision was made to relocate the Prep learning spaces into the Junior School Precinct. This has provided the Prep boys with an enhanced sense of belonging and a closer connection to the College community. The Master Plan Campus Vision aims to build upon that move, with one of the standout features of the Junior School projects being the development of the Prep deck space.
This new area is designed in consultation with stakeholders and has been envisaged with ease
of access and visibility in mind. By enhancing the connection between internal learning settings and the extended deck, this integration assists both learning and supervision, making it easier for teachers to engage with students in various activities. Moreover, the Prep deck is designed with future expansion in mind. This forwardthinking approach ensures that as the College grows, the facilities can adapt and expand to meet new demands, making it an investment in the future of BBC boys.
Enhancing Accessibility and Safety
Many families will be excited to learn that the Creek Precinct is another focal point of the Master Plan Campus Vision, with significant improvements aimed at enhancing accessibility and safety. The movement of cars through the space will be carefully considered to enhance the experience of both drivers and pedestrians, including through proposed upgrades to the main school access road aligned with the creek. These upgrades include improved road surfaces, kerbs, and channeling, along with the addition of generous footpaths for safe and intuitive pedestrian movement.
A Bright Future for BBC
The BBC Master Plan Campus Vision is a blueprint that celebrates the last 122 years while heralding a new era for the College. With its focus on enhancing learning environments, improving accessibility and safety, and integrating nature into education, the Vision will provide Junior School boys with a well-rounded, enriching educational experience. The future of BBC is indeed bright, and we look forward to working with the College community to support these exciting developments as they unfold.
This transformational Vision is not just about new buildings and facilities. It’s about creating an environment where the young gentlemen of the Junior School can thrive. It will allow BBC to continue to take education beyond the traditional classroom and provide an environment where the future leaders of tomorrow are nurtured and inspired.
Head of Secondary School
MS AMELIA APOGREMIOTIS
Senior Partners: The Master Plan Campus Vision and the Secondary School
LOOK AT YOUR SPACE WITH 21ST-CENTURY EYES. DOES IT WORK FOR WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT LEARNING TODAY, OR JUST WHAT WE KNEW ABOUT LEARNING IN THE PAST?
FROM THE BOOK 'THE THIRD TEACHER: 79 WAYS YOU CAN USE DESIGN TO TRANSFORM TEACHING & LEARNING'
A great classroom is one where our students feel inspired to learn. The space itself nurtures their curiosity and drives their ambition. Ideal learning environments aren’t just a dream but a critical factor in shaping student success.
Modern teaching methods demand spaces that allow for more flexibility than is usually possible in traditionally styled classrooms. The Master Plan Campus Vision is specifically designed to align with the most current research on how boys learn best. It focuses on creating environments that support
movement, hands-on learning, and real-life applications, which are key components of boys’ pedagogy. Environments that are thoughtfully designed can foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, playing a crucial role in student engagement and achievement.
Research has shown that students in well-designed spaces perform better academically and exhibit more positive attitudes toward learning. Textures, light, clutter, and colour significantly affect student performance. A lack of light can cause anxiety or stress, whereas employing the principles of colour psychology can drastically improve the effect a classroom has on students’ wellbeing and focus. Boys also benefit from environments that allow for movement and physical activity. Learning spaces with ample natural light, open layouts, calming colours, free-flowing movement, and flexible seating arrangements will feature in the new designs as crucial aspects that cater to boys’ learning styles.
The Prototype Classrooms will allow teachers and students to explore different learning spaces to spark curiosity, enabling boys to move around freely and engage in active
learning. The space allows design thinking to come alive, with the rooms built to facilitate designing, ideating, prototyping, and testing. Students will be able to brainstorm ideas collaboratively before bringing their designs to life on a 3D printer and testing their solutions in the same space. Boys will have the opportunity to move seamlessly between working collaboratively and independently, solidifying vital skills for their future and building their capacity for complex thinking, which grows in adolescence. This space will afford teachers the opportunity for multidisciplinary learning and cater to boys’ needs for physical engagement and hands-on activities while mirroring the innovative and collaborative work environments they will encounter in their future careers. Data will be collected from our experiences in the Prototype spaces to inform our future classroom developments. The refurbishment
of our learning spaces will ensure our classroom environments are up-to-date and fit for purpose. More choices in the types of furniture and styles of learning available to them appeal to boys’ need for autonomy and independence, which grows as they enter their teenage years.
Along with the learning and teaching spaces, areas for students to socialise are vitally important. Social connections increase happiness, health, and longevity, and inviting spaces that allow boys to bond during the day positively impact their mental health and academic performance. At a moment of development when teenagers are looking to the school environment to see where they belong, strong social connections can improve overall wellbeing and enhance cognitive function. Spaces that allow our students to sit and relax or be active with their peers also feature in the Master
Plan Campus Vision. Extensive work is underway on the Middle School landscape, with students eagerly awaiting the opportunity to try out the basketball half courts. These facilities are ideal for the development of our younger Secondary Students who use sports as a means of connecting. The communal seating in place around the feature tree in the courtyard is a hive of conversation both before school and during break times, as our Years 7 to 9 students gather and bond, which is essential to their developing sense of identity and connection. Friendships formed through these interactions last long after their time at the College has ended, fostering a lifelong support network.
The holistic education offered at the College emphasises balancing academic rigour with physical and mental health. The improvements in the sports training facilities on
campus will provide more ways for our young men to strengthen their vital team-building skills. School spirit is a core focus of older Secondary students and something that the current Prefect body has worked hard to develop this year. Planned improvements in spectator facilities will elevate the game-day experience and further enhance opportunities for boys to support their mates on the field. Families, Old Collegians, staff, and the broader community will use these expanded spaces to gather and cheer on our players, strengthening the bonds between the College and its supporters. This will create lasting memories and further fortify the BBC bond of brotherhood among students.
Implementing this Master Plan Campus Vision will significantly enhance the learning experience of our Secondary School students. By prioritising innovative learning
spaces, real-life connections, and social wellbeing, our campus will provide boys with more autonomy, purpose-built places for connection, improved wellbeing, and a diverse range of choices in how they learn, setting them up to thrive long after they graduate from the College.
Head of Co-Curriculum
MR MARK PAVONE
Ahead of the Game: Revolutionising Sports and Activities at BBC
The unveiling of the College’s Master Plan Campus Vision marks a pivotal moment in our history. This visionary approach to campus development will revolutionise the College’s sports and activities landscape, benefiting our whole community.
The Ball is in Our Court
In a world that is changing at a faster pace than ever, including in the rapidly evolving field of education, the need for stateof-the-art facilities has never been more critical. This need extends beyond the spaces where
academic learning occurs. BBC’s co-curriculum program plays a vital role in the development of students, offering benefits that extend outside of the classroom. Our sports and activities facilities play a critical part in the delivery of that program. The new Master Plan Campus Vision enables us to deliver on our commitment to providing an environment where every student can thrive.
State of Play
A quick walk around the BBC campus reveals the hive of building works currently underway in support of the Co-Curriculum Department. By expanding and improving our facilities, these works are ensuring that each student has access to the resources they need and deserve so that they can continue pursuing their passions and interests.
Our hugely successful tennis program has won 14 out of the last 19 GPS Premierships, and the recent resurfacing of the Senior Tennis Courts will aid the First IV in winning many more, also benefitting each of our tennis players in their exceptional success during GPS and representative opportunities. Coupled with the upcoming resurfacing of our Junior Tennis Courts and a reshaping for dualpurpose use, this will ensure BBC can continue to offer one of the best tennis programs in the country. The new surface reflecting the Green, White, and Black ensures all players and visitors are fully aware they are on the grounds of Brisbane Boys’ College.
Our recently installed, brand new, state-of-the-art cricket nets provide all of our current and future cricket legends the opportunity to play our national sport in pristine conditions. With inclusions like new turf nets and an electronic scoreboard, this development will centralise our cricket operations and make BBC the envy of many other schools.
New lighting over the pool and in the Barbara Helen Thomson Sports Complex will help enhance our current facilities for GPS and Club sports.
Our completely refurbished Powerzone, with new equipment, flooring, and painting, will support all of our students and their athletic endeavours.
The installation of a covered barbeque facility adjacent to the Old Collegians’ Pavilion will provide a dedicated space for Parent Support Groups to support game days with the provision of food and refreshments.
In order to ensure our supporters have a full view of the sports being played on Noblet Oval, the retaining wall will be removed to make way for tiered spectator seating. This area will also provide new outdoor spaces for both academic and cocurricular activities
With the proof in the pudding, as they say, the current upgrades to our facilities are impacting the environment every day, enabling students to grow and excel in the co-curriculum space.
Game Plan
Our Master Plan Campus Vision is set to deliver significant benefits across our sports and activities programs with the construction of new, world-class sports complexes, multi-purpose spaces, and brandnew activity areas, as well as specialised facilities aimed at expanding our plethora and quality of offerings via a range of projects.
• Of great excitement for competitive activities is a new High-Performance Sports Centre coupled with all the support services, which will significantly enhance our sports program offerings.
• A number of team and group meeting spaces will complement the build, in addition to various play areas for boys to have informal opportunities to increase their skills and fitness.
• Increased seating capacity will support all our field-based sports on Noblet, P&F, and Miskin Ovals.
• Additional parking spaces and event areas will enable our community to come together for our match-day activities with greater ease.
• The refurbishment of the Barbara Helen Thomson Sports Complex and an additional tennis court will increase the opportunity for students to play court-based sports and activities during their time at the College.
• BBC Rowing will enjoy an upgraded rowing centre to further support one of the College’s most iconic sports.
Overall, the Master Plan Campus Vision’s approach will provide further opportunities to support the holistic education of each boy with modern facilities and the latest technologies and equipment to enhance athletic performance, support fully inclusive participation, reinforce enhanced health and wellbeing programs, and provide community areas where parents, Old Boys, and friends of the College can engage in events and gatherings. Most importantly, the expansion of our facilities will bring tremendous benefits to the boys, not just through the provision of building works but through the enhanced support of the programs provided. The Master Plan Campus Vision truly supports the College’s core mission to educate the ‘whole boy’.
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higgins.com.au OUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE
BBC Foundation Chair MR IAN MACPHERSON (OC 1979)
The Foundation is committed to ensuring that boys are provided with the opportunity to experience and grow from an education at Brisbane Boys’ College. Their experience at BBC creates enduring friendships and associations, providing them with wisdom, skillsets, and connections that will aid them for the rest of their lives and throughout their careers.
We achieve this by funding a considerable number of bursaries for boys who otherwise would not have the opportunity to be part of the BBC brotherhood. To maintain the highest quality of education at the College, the Foundation aids in maintaining and continuously upgrading the educational and sporting facilities that make BBC one of the most revered schools in the country.
In one of the most significant undertakings of its 122-year history, the College has recently finalised its new Master Plan Campus Vision, which will redefine our historic campus during the next quarter of a century so that our sons and grandsons can mark their place in the rich fabric of the BBC story.
The Foundation Board welcomes this exciting phase of the College’s progression, noting that the Master Plan Campus Vision has been crafted to sympathetically align with the current educational needs of students whilst setting a course of considerable ambition and scope for the future. Overall, there are more than 40 projects, ranging in scale from upgrades to existing facilities to major new infrastructure projects. The team commissioned to execute the Master Plan Campus Vision has ensured that the timing and completion of each project mean they complement one another irrespective of their size and scope. Impressively, a quarter of these projects will already have been completed by the end of 2024 so that all of the College community can witness the results of this significant undertaking in practice.
As one of the prime funding mechanisms for the College, the Foundation will work closely with the BBC Council and the Executive Team to raise the capital required to execute this rejuvenation of the education and sporting infrastructure at BBC.
The Master Plan Campus Vision incorporates several significant new buildings that will take the College forward another 100 years. Looking through the projects, it is evident that the school has considered all aspects of the future development of the campus, including pastoral care for the boys, the upgrading and developing of educational facilities, maintaining the College’s identity and Christian values, and strengthening co-curricular activities.
When it comes to philanthropy at BBC, there are many ways to give, either via Building Fund donations or by leaving a bequest for current and future generations. In these ways, any member of our community can identify a part of the plan that resonates with them and help to fund its execution. Numerous opportunities exist within the Master Plan Campus Vision to leave an enduring legacy that will benefit this fine establishment for decades to come.
bbcgiving.org.au
I’m thrilled with the release of the Master Plan Campus Vision for our beloved school, which has been developed under Headmaster Andre Casson’s stewardship. This detailed plan is more than just a blueprint for buildings and facilities; it’s a guide for continuing the legacy of excellence that we all cherish.
Different generations of Old Boys remember different versions of Brisbane Boys’ College, each reflecting our school’s commitment to providing the best facilities and resources. This Master Plan Campus Vision is the next step in that ongoing journey, promising to create an even better environment for learning and growth.
BBC isn’t just a school; it’s a community, a family, and a lifelong bond of Green, White, and Black brotherhood. The pride we feel for our College is rooted in our shared experiences and the traditions that have been passed down through the years. Embracing this Master Plan is a way for us to honour that bond and ensure that the spirit of BBC continues to thrive.
We all know the power of the BBC name. It’s a symbol of excellence, tradition, and prestige. The new Master Plan Campus Vision aims to elevate this reputation with stateof-the-art facilities and innovative educational spaces that will benefit generations of students to come.
It’s about making sure that BBC remains a leader in education, just as it was when we were students. This is our College, and this Master Plan Campus Vision is a reflection of our pride and commitment, ensuring young men can grow, learn, and achieve great things for generations to come.
You can help build the future of bbc
One of the key things that has allowed BBC to thrive for 122 years is the remarkable support from our one-of-a-kind community. From the day the College opened its doors in 1902, we have been blessed with a passionate family of dedicated supporters. The most iconic elements of our campus, from our swimming pool to the Old Collegians’ Pavilion, could never have been built without the generosity and advocacy of Old Boys, parents, and community members.
The release of our Master Plan Campus Vision lays out a roadmap towards a bright and ambitious future that is built for boys. If you would like to contribute to that journey, we would be honoured to have your support. While unique philanthropic opportunities will regularly become available in the months and years ahead, all donations made to the College Building Fund go directly towards realising the vision set forth in this magazine.
Community members also have the option to leave donations to BBC in their will, be it money, items, or property. Bequests from Old Collegians have previously resulted in the construction of the Bisset Gallery and the remodelling of Noblet Oval, among other projects.
YOU’RE INVITED THURSDAY 3 OCTOBER 5:30PM
Join us as we reveal an exclusive first look at a oncein-a-generation vision for our campus. Hosted in the new Prototype Classrooms, discover the details of our Master Plan Campus Vision and learn how the future of BBC is built for boys.
MASTER PLAN CAMPUS VISION LAUNCH
Please scan the QR code to RSVP by Monday, 23 September.
Back in the Green, White, and Black: How Old Collegians Are Building the Future of BBC
BBC is privileged to work with numerous Old Collegians who have returned to the College in a variety of different capacities to strengthen and improve our school for generations to come. We caught up with three such Old Boys: Mr Don O’Rorke (OC 1977), Chairman of Consolidated Properties Group and Chair of the BBC Advisory Council; Mr Peter Bolton Hall (OC 1976), an experienced property consultant who advises the College; and Mr Steve Wintraaken (OC 1996), who lends us his expertise from 18 years of project management experience with Blades Project Services. During a lengthy chat in College House, these gentlemen discussed the Master Plan Campus Vision and offered some insights from their years spent on the BBC campus.
BBC: What about the College is important to you? What were your experiences like when you were here as students, and what did you take away from your time here?
DO: So, as a kid from the bush, I was born up in Esk. Coming down to the city as a boarder was a complete change of life. BBC really introduced me to the city, and the connections I’ve made from those schoolboy days continue to resonate throughout my personal life and work life. For instance, Peter was a year ahead of me. He was one of four best friends, who are all names you probably recognise: Scott Hutchinson of Hutchinson Builders, whom I’ve worked with many times since, and David Colenso and Peter McLeod, both of whom went on to become successful solicitors in the city. So I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to enter those circles were it not for BBC. I’ve got five boys, all of whom
have been through boarding at BBC. I still have two boys at BBC, and for the last couple of years, I’ve been the Chair of the Council. So, the BBC thread continues to weave through my life.
PBH: I welcomed the opportunity to come back and bring my commercial property expertise to assist the school with part of its Master Plan Campus Vision. I don’t think I ever went into this house when I was here as a student. I think it was the Headmaster’s quarters then. So if I’d come in here when I was at school, I would’ve been in a lot of trouble. But it’s just so good to be back at the College. I consider any assistance I can provide a privilege.
SW: I had a great time at school. I’ve got 30 or 40 close friends to this day from BBC. I enjoy coming back to the College and helping out in a variety of ways, whether it’s through construction or just advice and knowledge. It’s like a family now. As Old Boys, we’re proud of what the school is. We want it to be the best. And it’s like anything you’re a part of, whether it’s a sporting team or business, you want to strive to be the best. And there have been some amazing things in the works recently. I’ve got a son who’s in Year 12 now, finishing up. He’s done amazingly well, and the College has provided him with opportunities similar to the ones it provided me.
BBC: A strong part of BBC is that sense of community and how it lasts after you’ve graduated. What do you think it is about this place that has that kind of staying power?
DO: It is very much a cradle-tolegacy approach to the school. Now, where does that come from? It comes from the teachers, it comes from the Old Boys, it comes from the students, and it comes from the sporting coaches. All of those people together imbue this sense of community that lasts both during your time at BBC and throughout your life as well. So, there is this sense of belonging. There’s always a community you can engage with. As Steve said,
everyone is enormously proud of the College, and everyone wants to assist in some way in the College’s progression. Thus, we’ve seen Peter coming back and bringing his skills to assist the College with a whole bunch of property initiatives. Steve is doing a fantastic job building new buildings here, as well as on the other campuses the PMSA has. But there is something that happens – the alchemy of the place – that makes you want to come back and be part of it. It’s the magic of BBC.
PBH: Yeah, I’ll just add to that. I think that social interaction is really important for people. And BBC is very good at engaging with the Old Boys and bringing us all together. Speaking of cradle to legacy, I was chatting with Steve the other day, and I mentioned what it was like when the BBC Rowing Shed got washed away in the ’74 floods, and he said he wasn’t even born then.
DO: [laughs] He’s just making us feel old, Pete.
PBH: BBC is also about family for me. Both my uncles, Tom and Vic French, were Old Boys here, and they still turn up to the Old Boys events. And Vic and Tom’s sons – my cousins Bruce, David, and Stuart – are also BBC Old Boys. So, it’s quite a family thing for me, and we remain committed to the school throughout the family. My uncles and cousins still talk very fondly of the school, not dissimilar to the way we do.
BBC: With the Master Plan Campus Vision and the building out of the campus we have scheduled, how do you see that affecting the College in the future?
DO: I suppose the first thing to say is that the College is and needs to be a dynamic place. The academic programs have changed to reflect what society and business need from people who graduate. And also in the physical sense. These aren’t set-and-forget assets. They need to be maintained. The campus needs to have new buildings built. Then, the programs that run through those buildings need to evolve as well. And that’s very much witnessed in what’s happening at the College right now. Under
Andre Casson, business planning is first class. He’s enacted the new Strategic Plan. The logical thing to follow from that is the Master Plan Campus Vision. It’s really heartening to see that the College isn’t resting on its laurels or treading water. It’s very much got its eye on the horizon and how we get there.
PBH: There’s a lot of passion about the College from the staff of BBC, and this clearly flows through to the students as well as all the other stakeholders involved with the
SW: I think from a construction point of view, what I’ve been involved in is delivering a lot of projects, from the Prototype Classrooms to College Hall to the cricket nets. I might just see generations of future Wintraakens continue to come through here. The family tradition continues on for everyone.
DO: It’s very personal for Steve, too, because you can say to your son and his children, “I built that building, I built that building, I built that building.” He’s personally made a huge difference to the physical campus.
school. I think what helps support this passion is a good balance between short-term and long-term objectives. Whilst ensuring that everything fits financially and meets the needs of the school and the students in the short term, what’s refreshing for me is there’s a good long-term perspective as well. And I think that’s very healthy for a sustainable future.
DO: It’d be fair to say that’s been under Andre’s vision.
SW: Yes.
BBC:You’ve already broached this in some ways, but the campus is quite different from the one you experienced when you were here as students. What do you think those changes and additions over the years have added to the campus, and how do you see that fulfilling BBC’s function of remaining at the cutting edge of boys’ education?
DO: At its simplest, when Peter and I were here, the school was 700 kids. It’s now double the size. So what that says to me is that the school has adapted and grown to match its potential, and now the job of the Master Plan Campus Vision is to lay out the pathway for the next phase of growth through the school. And that’ll need to reflect the differing needs of the kids today versus when we were here last century. And I think it’s really pleasing that the school has got really good professionals to provide a vision of what the campus could look like in another 25 years time. So I look forward, hopefully, at 63, to be able to see the next 25 years.
PBH: [laughs] Hear, hear. I’m also looking forward to seeing what happens here over the next 25 years.
DO: But the ability to adapt and then the ability to execute is important, and I think BBC can do both those things well. I think it’s important to say, too, that the Master Plan process has been a really disciplined, well-conceived, and thought-out process. It’s been a data-driven process. It looks at what the income will
BBC: Just one more question.You’ve talked about seeing where the Master Plan Campus Vision has taken the College once it’s been completed. Is there something that you think will be the legacy of this current period of BBC when people think back on it?
SW: I don’t think it’s any one particular project. Master plans are live environments, and the world changes all the time. But delivering a master plan that the community is proud of will be an important legacy. And we want to help the school deliver those projects in all different types of ways so that they continue to support the school in becoming bigger and better.
PBH: In my experience, successful master plans need
be and what the needs are. It looks at what the costs are. It looks at the construction times. So this Master Plan Campus Vision is particularly good because it’s been data-driven and it’s disciplined and it’s rational. It’s been financially modelled.
buy-in and commitment from all key stakeholders. The quality of the current leadership and the passion of the College and management, I think, will be remembered and seen as a key reason why the Master Plan Campus Vision was such a great success.
DO: I think people will look back at this period in the school’s history and they’ll see an enormous amount of positive activity. People will look back and see that during Andre
Casson’s time as Headmaster, a brave and exciting plan was formulated and actually executed on. And what we’ll see are a whole bunch of the outcomes of that across buildings, programs, and the approach to the business of running a school. We’ll see that this was a significant inflection moment in BBC’s history.
