Whitby Collegiate by Andrew Sexton Architecture

Weaving new constructions into a pre-existing school environment, Andrew Sexton Architecture crafts a classroom pavilion and linked external space for Whitby Collegiate. The finished project effortlessly embodies the values of the school.

Located in the Porirua suburb of Whitby in New Zealand, Whitby Collegiate is a progressive school with an uplifting learning environment. Contributing to the influential built landscape of the school, the newest architectural additions occupy a previously under-utilised shadowed slope next to the gym. Sitting adjacent to a native bush reserve and Duck Creek stream, the completed work is the result of a short three-month design and documentation stage, followed by a rapid four-month construction period.

Contributing to the influential built landscape of the school, the newest architectural additions occupy a previously under-utilised shadowed slope next to the gym.

Reflecting the self-aware ethos of the school, the design of Whitby Collegiate is significant and informative. As an institution, Whitby Collegiate proposes future-focused learning and a nurturing environment – in response, Andrew Sexton Architecture produces raw and unpretentious structures that serve as exemplars of timber construction, speaking to the creative possibilities of the material as well as its inherent qualities.

Recognising the ever-expanding potential of timber, the architects marry the material to the function and character of Whitby Collegiate. With its robust qualities, the wood allows for both high levels of foot traffic (without showing signs of frequent use) and low-maintenance protection from the Whitby climate. Intrinsically organic, timber enables the pavilion and walkway to be perceived as extensions of the surrounding bushland, softening the pre-existing campus and fostering a sense of welcome. At the same time, the simplicity of the material highlights the well-crafted and intellectually stimulating structure each individual building has.

Recognising the ever-expanding potential of timber, the architects marry the material to the function and character of Whitby Collegiate.

The timber covered walkway lengthens the arrival process slightly, smoothly transitioning students from the outdoor environment to the classroom. Externally, the classrooms are clad in chemical-free, heat-and-steam-treated timber whilst the interiors feature understated panelling. Made from wood wool – an upcycled material – the panels offer the ideal acoustic insulation for a bustling classroom.

Overcoming the limited time frame of the project, Andrew Sexton Architecture has imbued Whitby Collegiate with a sense of unhurriedness and deliberation. Forward-thinking and executed with precision, the Whitby Collegiate pavilion and walkway are instilled with values intrinsically appropriate to a place of learning.