Adelaide Botanic High School
DesignInc, in collaboration with Cox Architecture, designed and delivered South Australia’s first vertical school. Located in the CBD, Adelaide Botanic High School opened in 2019.
For 1,250 secondary school students, the buildings are designed with flexible learning areas to enable an integrated curriculum that helps prepare them for the future.
The new school’s heart is a light-filled atrium connecting the adapted six-storey Reid Building to a new seven-storey building as an active atrium.
Environmental design minimises energy and water use, in support of the city’s Adelaide to Zero Carbon Challenge. The project will achieve a 5-Star Green Star As-Built rating.
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CLIENT
SA Department for Education and Child Development; Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure
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LOCATION
Adelaide, South Australia
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YEAR
2019
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SCALE
15,750 m²
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VALUE
$100 million
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COLLABORATORS
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PHOTOGRAPHY
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AWARDS
Gold Award, Built Environment Education, Design Institute of Australia (SA/NT) 2019
Excellence in a Commercial/Industrial Building $50M to $100M, Master Builders Association (SA) 2019
Derrick Kendrick Award for Sustainable Architecture, Australian Institute of Architects (SA) 2019
Robert Dickson Award for Interior Architecture, Australian Institute of Architects (SA) 2019
Dr John Mayfield Award for Educational Architecture, Australian Institute of Architects (SA) 2019

The Hon. Jay Weatherill MP, Premier of South AustraliaOur State’s future will be built on high quality public schools which equip our students with the skills needed to secure the jobs of the future.
The Adelaide Botanic High School’s name reflects its specialist health and sciences program. Purpose-designed laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art science and design technology to support the STEM focus (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), preparing students to be future innovators.
Key facilities
- Food technology kitchens
- Library and research centre
- Maker spaces (design, media studies, art)
- Indoor gymnasium
- Outside learning and recreation spaces
- Music and drama learning and practice spaces
- Cafeteria with outdoor terrace
- Basement parking for 170 bicycles




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