Rohrig elevates Hills International College with state-of-the-art STEAM Centre
Rohrig recently completed a new STEAM Centre at Hills International College in Jimboomba, Queensland, marking the second major stage of the school’s masterplan and a significant investment in the growing region.
This project positions the college as a leading South-East Queensland educator, delivering world-class specialist learning environments for students from kindergarten to Year 12.
“The new STEAM Centre represents a significant investment in the future of Hills International College and in the young people we are preparing for a rapidly changing world. More than a building, it is a statement of our commitment to providing exceptional learning environments that inspire curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and innovation. This facility will enrich student learning by giving our students access to contemporary, purpose-built spaces where they can explore, experiment and develop the knowledge and skills they will need for the future,” said Hills International College Principal/CEO, Darren Parks.
Design of the new centre was undertaken by school architecture specialists Novum. The team envisioned the new two-storey building as the new centrepiece of the campus, presenting a striking, purpose-built facility featuring a modern brick façade that ties in with the existing school while introducing contemporary finishes and architectural features.
The new centre provides seven general learning areas across two levels, including four specialist science rooms covering chemistry, physics, biology and general science. Room features include state-of-the-art equipment including chemical cupboards, fume extraction, new gas connections, and chemical-resistant laminate and flooring.
Additional spaces include art and media art rooms, a photography studio, a kiln room, a preparation room, withdrawal rooms, amenities and storerooms. A new forecourt featuring off-form feature concrete and tiered seating creates a dynamic gathering place for the school community, and a new bridge links the building directly to the existing resource centre.
A vital design and construct component of the project was the shoring wall the Rohrig team engineered and built adjacent to an existing lake. As the new building sits below the lake’s water level, the shoring wall was essential to ensure the building’s long-term integrity, requiring meticulous planning and sequencing throughout the construction programme.
The project also required our team to work within a live school environment with significant foot traffic and multiple public interfaces. To ensure safety and minimise disruption, we established a temporary dedicated access road to segregate construction traffic from students and staff, and programmed works around the college’s examination periods.
The Rohrig team also facilitated multiple walkthroughs with various school departments during construction to ensure feedback was captured and incorporated, as well as coordinating a significant power upgrade outside of school hours to ensure zero interruption to the college’s day-to-day operations.
“Returning to Hills International College following the HPE centre, to deliver another world-class facility for a school that is genuinely investing in its future, has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Rohrig Queensland General Manager, Alexei Avsenev.
“The STEAM Centre presented us with some really interesting challenges, but our team thrives on finding innovative solutions — from engineering complex structural elements to coordinating a major power upgrade without interrupting a single class.”
“Seeing this building take its place as the new heart of the campus and knowing the role it’ll play as the college grows alongside the South-West corridor, is what makes this work so meaningful for our team.”
The new STEAM Centre at Hills International College continues the school’s investment in world-class learning environments, providing the specialist facilities needed to attract and inspire the next generation of students. Rohrig is proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the college, and we look forward to seeing this exceptional facility serve the community for decades to come.