CANTERBURY COLLEGE EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

PRAX Studio has been engaged by Canterbury College to design a new 112-place Early Learning Centre adjacent to its main campus in Waterford, Queensland. The project responds to a uniquely shaped, triangular site by organising the centre into three pavilion buildings that step down the gently sloping terrain, reducing in scale toward the site’s tapered southern end.

The pavilions are connected by a covered external spine along the western edge, which functions as both circulation and shaded verandah—providing protection from the sun and additional outdoor play space. The design ensures full accessibility, with a series of ramps linking the entry and administration area at the top of the site to the classrooms and outdoor play areas below.

A semi-basement level beneath the upper pavilion accommodates parking and services, allowing the educational spaces above to remain closely connected to the landscape. Between the pavilions, landscaped terraces and pocket gardens provide opportunities for outdoor learning, quiet retreat, and social gathering.

The architecture adopts a low-set, horizontal expression appropriate to its bushland and residential setting. A warm and durable material palette—timber cladding, face brick, and off-form concrete—anchors the buildings in their natural context while supporting the centre’s focus on calm, welcoming environments for early learning.

This new facility reflects Canterbury College’s commitment to high-quality early childhood education through a design that integrates play, nature, and accessibility at every level.