The new Mabel Fidler Building for the Ravenswood School for Girls (NSW) uses innovations not yet seen in Australia and has incorporated a number of unusual technical architectural elements.

The vented façade, which is made up of a mixture of polycarbonate and curtain walling, is the first time the polycarbonate system (Rodeca) had been used in Australia on a project of this nature.

The vented cavity heats up in summer and is vented through the capping which is activated by sensors.

The 6,500 square metre project, designed by BVN Architects, is essentially three buildings linked together via walkways whilst connecting into the existing school buildings.

The structure to building ‘A’ involved three cantilevered slabs spanning 13 metres which are supported by the structural steel roof trusses.

The interior fit-out involved a mixture of plywoods, ceilings and linings, laminated glazing, plywood reveals, bamboo flooring and joinery. All of these had to be installed of a metre grid and all the joints had to align.

Sustainable initiatives designed for the building include rain water reuse, mixed mode air conditioning and the strategic placement of LCD screens detailing Building Energy usage to educate students on the impact of their behavior on emissions.

The new Mabel Fidler Building will replace the current resource centre (library) and will provide a new main entry point to the rest of the campus. The four storey building incorporates:

• A junior and secondary resource centre

• Study and relaxation space for senior students

• New classrooms

• Seminar spaces

• Reception/welcoming area

• Improved access to the campus

The $18 million project commenced in February 2010 and was completed in July 2011.