“Brisbane architectural stair standards just went up a notch with this fitout”
Architect: jmid.
Client: Brisbane Catholic Education
Builder: SHAPE
Location: 2 Bourke St, Wooloongabba Brisbane
Work Completed by Active Metal
Structural steel stairs, vinyl treads, steel flat bar balustrades to stairs, Tasmanian oak timber handrails, soffit linings, nosings & tactiles
Overview
Brisbane Catholic Education is a learning community of all involved in diocesan Catholic schools and the staff of the Brisbane Catholic Education Office. With over 140 schools, Brisbane Catholic Education provides quality teaching and learning outcomes for Prep to Year 12 students. To quote the BCE’s own words, “the BCE schools are shaping lives, nurturing individuals and encouraging each student to realise their full potential. Through its partnerships with parents, governments and the community, it is providing social responsibility, self-discipline and Christian values for all its students and nurtures and supports the community in their faith journey.”
In a complete reflection of their cultural values, BCE engaged the exceptional Jane McConnell of jmid. to design the unique fitout of their new operational headquarters in Wooloongabba, which was in turn delivered by Shape. Incorporating training areas, offices and collaboration zones, the fitout is made truly remarkable by the inclusion of a vaulted skylight through the space, something that is definitely rare in the realm of office fitouts. Definitely invoking a chapel-like aesthetic, the fitout needs to be seen to be experienced. See Jane’s images here for reference.
Working in collaboration with Jane, Active Metal also were able to make use of a pre-existing atrium void to position the high quality right-angle steel staircase. Utilising a steel balustrade design in preference to glass, the white paint finish makes for a design clean and well defined. The timber treads and handrails serve to provide warmth and texture over against the blank canvas of the stair and it’s adjoining finishes.
While there are other Brisbane architectural stair installations, BCE is on one its own.
