Elevating Educational Design – Caulfield Grammar’s New Senior School Building

The newly completed Senior School Teaching and Learning Building at Caulfield Grammar School sets a new benchmark for contemporary educational design. A collaboration between DesignInc Melbourne and 3XN, the five-level development redefines the role of the built environment in shaping learning experiences, with an emphasis on creativity, collaboration, and wellbeing.

GALLERY

Central to the architectural vision is a dramatic atrium, anchored by a sculptural staircase that doubles as both a circulation route and a dynamic learning and social zone. This focal point features Embelton’s AB Grade wideboard European Oak timber flooring in ‘Beach Oak’, a warm, natural finish that seamlessly integrates across all levels, including staircases, to unify the spatial experience.

Materiality plays a vital role in enhancing the building’s connection to nature. From the generous influx of natural light to integrated greenery and biophilic gestures, the interior design fosters calm, focus, and psychological comfort. Embelton’s sustainably certified timber flooring reinforces this narrative, contributing to the tactile and visual richness of the spaces while supporting environmentally conscious specification.

This state-of-the-art facility accommodates 950 senior students and 50 staff, offering a range of spatial typologies, from collaborative zones that mirror professional environments to quiet, contemplative areas that support independent study. The design anticipates not just the needs of today’s learners but also the evolving demands of the future.

Caulfield Grammar’s new Teaching and Learning Building is more than an education facility, it is a case study in how architecture and interior design can nurture human potential. The thoughtful use of Embelton timber flooring exemplifies how material choices can support both aesthetic and performance outcomes in education-led projects.