Fahan Change Rooms

The change room upgrade at Fahan School is the first completed project for the school following the 2023 masterplan by Bence Mulcahy. Fahan is an all-girls school situated on a heritage listed campus, significant in part for it’s sports field.  With a founding and enduring focus on sport and outdoor education for girls, it is fitting then, Fahan chose as its first capital works project change rooms, amenities and storage. The project is an exercise in doing more with less, physically and programatically. The 1980s brick block building is retained with minor replanning creating private amenities and a greater storage area, and on the exterior a new concrete podium and verandah extension provide enhanced amenity, accessibility and spectating.  Despite it’s banality careful consideration is given to removal and replacement of existing building fabric. Block work is retained internally, and new works are restrained to only where required. Private toilet and shower rooms are provided off the change room and an accessible toilet/shower room off the verandah doubles as a referee change room.  A major element of the new works is a new concrete podium forming a level surface for accessibility and for hosing out. Tinted red it connects to the red brick campus. The podium forms an edge to the sports field. The verandah extends past the building, and delineates the school’s oval from the car park. A fine steel screen forms a layer of privacy for external showers to rinse off wetsuits and gear after a lesson on the beach.  The project is emblematic of the school’s enduring commitment to girls sport and outdoor education. It is a modest project, doing more with less. Adam Gibson Photography