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Arthur Phillip School, Parramatta

Lyons Architecture / Parramatta, Western Sydney, Australia

McGregor Coxall and Lyons Architecture were finalists in an international design competition to design NSW’s first public high-rise high school. The school is to be constructed in the CBD Parramatta as a part of the Department’s Parramatta City Schools Strategy.  Our concept design comprised a landscape embedded into the urban fabric of parramatta CBD, creating a world class precinct which would safely integrate opportunities for recreation and outdoor learning.

Key entry points, thresholds and edge conditions were designed specifically to support school functionality and learning whilst also uniting the schools with the cityscape that surrounds it. This civic approach to the landscapes of the edge and entry points positions each school in a confident and outward looking manner. When considered as an “urban campus”–,the collective landscape that spans the two schools enables maximum flexibility in terms of management, operation, education, recreation and play programs.

Site Area

1.25 ha

Services

  • Competition
  • Public Domain Strategy
  • Recreation
  • Research
  • Urban Design Framework
  • Water Sensitive Urban Design [WSUD]

Collaborators

  • Lyons Architecture
  • NSW Department of Finance & Services
An outdoor scene of Parramatta's modern school campus shows students playing on a basketball court and walking around. Surrounding the area are trees and multi-story buildings, with a tall skyscraper and an HSBC building in the background under a partly cloudy sky at Arthur Phillip School.
A modern multi-story building with a futuristic design stands prominently in Parramatta's urban setting. Various levels feature extended platforms and angular structures. Nearby smaller brick buildings and parked cars are in the foreground, with adjacent high-rise buildings, including the Arthur Phillip School, in the background.
An aerial view of Parramatta reveals a modern urban area featuring multiple buildings with sleek architectural designs. Central towers are adorned with large windows and terraces. Near the Arthur Phillip School, lush trees, open sports fields, and busy streets showcase a blend of nature and urban living.
An aerial view of a city block in Parramatta features sports courts, including basketball and tennis courts. The image shows adjacent buildings, pathways, and green spaces with trees surrounding the recreational areas, situated near Arthur Phillip School. The layout includes several distinct sections.
A modern playground at Arthur Phillip School in Parramatta boasts multiple levels, featuring slides, climbing structures, and swings under tree shade. Children and adults interact throughout the space, with some walking on elevated wooden paths and others playing on the surrounding grass and sand areas.
A lively outdoor scene at Arthur Phillip School's Parramatta campus features students in graduation gowns, people sitting on grass, and others walking around. A historic building with a steeple and brick pathways are visible in the background, surrounded by lush green trees.
People gather in a spacious, sunlit park in Parramatta with large trees and scattered fallen leaves. A massive old tree with sprawling branches stands prominently near the center, with benches and playground structures nearby. Near Arthur Phillip School, people walk, sit, and socialize in the vibrant space.
A spacious, modern indoor courtyard with a grass floor and various seating areas welcomes visitors at Arthur Phillip School in Parramatta. People engage in activities like sitting, walking, and chatting. Large slanted beams and a canopy provide shade, while glass exterior walls highlight the nearby lifts and resource center.
Interior of a modern school building in Parramatta with a visible gymnasium on the left. At Arthur Phillip School, students in uniforms holding books and bags walk through an open, well-lit foyer with wooden ceiling panels and greenery. Some students play basketball in the open gym.
A vibrant urban park in Parramatta features people walking, sitting, and socializing amidst blooming jacaranda trees with purple flowers. The park has tiered seating, grassy areas, and a nearby café. The adjacent street near Arthur Phillip School is busy with pedestrians and cyclists.

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