Secondary School
Senior College

Edmiston Jones transformed an existing industrial building into a dynamic learning environment for Alesco at WEA Illawarra, a national program supporting students for whom traditional schooling is not a fit. Working closely with Alesco, EJ guided a successful 2015 AIS Capital Works grant application, ensuring the project met both strategic and educational goals. 

The refurbishment provides a dedicated senior school space that accommodates projected growth while fostering flexibility and engagement. Classrooms, basic cooking facilities, external meeting and recreation areas, and administrative spaces are connected across levels by a lift, creating a cohesive, accessible campus hub. 

Central to the project was EJ’s co-design methodology. Teachers and students shaped the brief through cognitive mapping exercises, exploring “a day in the life” and identifying needs, opportunities, and aspirations. CEO at the time, David Fuller reflected that this approach created a strong sense of ownership: the space is not just functional, but one students can personalise, inhabit confidently, and call their own.