IA’s Brisbane team were engaged by the Queensland Department of Education to design a refurbishment of their existing 980 square metre conference centre. Delivered concurrently with a brand-new Audio-Visual rollout, the brief included creating an over-arching concept and sense of meaning for the space while creating distinct personalities for the six different conference, meeting room, workshop and lab facilities.

Upon entry, the inviting and unique reception and lift lobby offers the first glimpse of the wayfinding and graphic elements featured throughout the space. We had the privilege of working with DoE’s Marketing and First Nations teams to intertwine their newly created ‘Landscape of Learning’ branding into the design to ensure they worked in harmony to tell the same stories.

The Landscape of Learning design is made up of nine unique elements of oceans, rivers, land, and ecology to highlight the interconnected systems that combine to represent the Department and the complexity of the work that they do. IA’s material concept creates a connection to greater Queensland through colour and finishes that evoke an emotional and spiritual relationship with the state’s diverse natural landscapes and terrain. Individual graphical elements from the Landscape of Learning artwork were included on all room doors and wayfinding signage with each element aligning with the corresponding room design. Northern and Southern Riverbank glazing film graphics adorn the glass fin architectural features located on either side of the reception counter.

This project, including both the new AV and corporate branding elements, was delivered on time by Indigenous contractors Rork Projects who were engaged under the DoE’s Indigenous procurement program.