Some demolition work has begun in Dutton Park to make way for the construction of the new Inner City South State Secondary College (ICSSSC). Reports revealed that nearly $17 million was spent to acquire the property, which will stand across at least eight lots along Gladstone Road and Grantham Street.
Two large buildings on this stretch will be completely gone following the demolition while at least 14 other properties will be relocated or will be offered for reuse, per the State Government.
The new ICSSSC building should meet the growing needs of the state to provide more inner-city secondary schools, especially with a projected 3,000 rise in students in the next five years.
The target is to open this new school by Term 1 in 2021.
Jackie Trad of BVN, the Brisbane architecture firm, has been tasked to lead this project.
“Stage One of the new high school will be completed in time for foundation Year 7 students to commence in term 1, 2021, with the school continuing to grow a year level each year through to 2026 when the school will offer Year 7 to Year 12,” Ms Trad said.
Despite public consultations, some quarters continue to question the project’s cost, location and design.
Jarrod Bleijie of the opposition said that taxpayers are forced to shoulder millions due to the failure of the state to plan and prepare new schools ahead.
Griffith University professor Dr Tony Matthews said that the new building may pose some health risks for the students as it will be close to high traffic, where large volumes of vehicles emit smoke and bring the noise.
The new building is the second vertical educational facility to be built in Brisbane. Vertical schools, as opposed to the suburban or traditional school model, have common outdoor facilities like a basketball or netball court integrated indoors.
“The green spaces at Dutton Park will provide an area for students to have a seat at lunchtime, but where students use off-site sporting fields, it immediately raises questions about liability and child health and safety,” Mr Matthews said.
“There’s a lot of merit to building up if it will create more green space for the students but the new high school at Dutton Park doesn’t achieve that because it doesn’t have an oval,” he added.
But BVN’s plan for the Inner City South State Secondary College building includes a learning oasis or green space that will interconnect with the nearby Gair Park. The school will also have a health and wellbeing hub to house the canteen, hospitality and food sciences facilities.
To view the complete masterplan, visit the State Government’s website.
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