Arcadia is thrilled that the Chisholm Institute has been recognised in the 2025 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards. The Better Future Design Awards is an awards program focused on celebrating creativity, courage and excellence in design.
Fast becoming one of the most advanced and innovative training and skills institutes in the region, Stage Two of the Frankston Campus Redevelopment Project for the Chisholm Institute was designed with a goal to deliver new state-of-the-art education and teaching facilities, responding to growing local industry needs.
To create a sense of belonging through a place-specific campus identity, an important step of the design approach was research into the Frankston area to understand the First Nations and colonial history of site, as well as site assessments for solar access, connections, winds, and local species to encourage biodiversity.
The result is a coastal inspired campus identity that represents Frankston’s precolonial natural landscape in an abstract yet literal form, as well as highlighting the proximity to the beach through the planting and material palettes.
The landscape and open space surrounding the Stage Two building has expanded the campus heart, creating a dynamic outdoor hub for socialising, learning and connections, with a diversity of spaces and improved pedestrian permeability, set within a landscape narrative reminiscent of the precolonial natural landscape.
A main pedestrian spine runs through the centre, allowing access to the different learning buildings as well as an open plaza and multiple gathering areas. A central timber deck with a stage is positioned for outdoor learning and performance opportunities, overlooked by protected amphitheater seating.
The central open lawn is embraced for informal socialisation, relaxation and student events while the table tennis tables encourage physical sports activity and a flexible sport surface, with the sand dune inspired super graphic offers adaptability.
Client: Chisholm Institute, Collaborators: Grays Puksand
Well done to everyone involved.
Learn more about Chisholm Institute here