Kilvington Grammar School – The Hive STEM & Library

Overall Winner – Learning Environments Australasia (LEA) Victoria & Tasmania Chapter Awards 2025

The Hive STEM and Library at Kilvington Grammar School is an award-winning education facility that redefines how architecture can actively support learning, sustainability and student engagement. Anchored around a mature eucalyptus tree, the three-level building functions as a living laboratory, where environmental systems become part of the educational experience.

Louvreclad was engaged early in the design process, collaborating closely with Clarke Hopkins Clarke Architects to develop an external shading solution aligned with the project’s environmental and pedagogical goals. Early design involvement allowed multiple operable louvre options to be explored and refined to suit the building’s orientation, learning spaces and user needs.

The final solution features large Polaris Series® operable louvres, designed specifically for sun control, shading and privacy. The louvres incorporate a custom picture perforated pattern inspired by the surrounding gum trees, reinforcing the building’s strong connection to landscape. Finished in Dulux® Duratec® Eternity® Aries Metallic Matt, the screens deliver long-term durability and a refined, contemporary appearance. These large operable louvres are also connected to sun sensors and lux sensors inside the building to deliver effective passive solar control and ensure optimal learning conditions at all times of the day. Complementing these, the Scarborough Series® Window Hoods feature slim horizontal sun blades that extend the building’s architectural rhythm and shading performance.

The result is a responsive, visually distinctive façade that supports occupant comfort and sustainability, while contributing to a learning environment where architecture itself becomes a teaching tool.