The Edmund Rice Centre (ERC) at Emmanuel College, Warrnambool (VIC), designed by Baldasso Cortese Architects, has been awarded the Regional Design Award in the 2025 Lysaght Inspirations Design Awards. This new learning hub demonstrates how a project can respect local history while delivering modern,
flexible spaces for education.
A Building that Belongs to its Place
The ERC takes inspiration from Warrnambool’s local character. Its bold COLORBOND® steel finish in Manor Red® reflects the red roofs that are a familiar feature across Victoria’s southwest.
The exposed truss element references the Hopkins River bridge, while carefully framed views connect back to the historic St Anne’s Convent, the College’s original site. Landscaping with indigenous species further ties the building into its environment, creating a clear physical and cultural link to place.
Reflecting on the project, the 2025 judging panel commented:
“The Edmund Rice Centre immediately feels like part of Warrnambool’s story. The colour choice, structural references, and framed views make this a building with real meaning for students and the community.”
The Role of LYSAGHT Building Products
The design relied heavily on the choice of steel cladding and roofing profiles. LYSAGHT® SPANDEK® walling was selected for its clean, linear profile, providing sharp definition to the building’s facades. This gave the long, folded forms of the centre a strong visual clarity.
For the roof, LYSAGHT® KLIP-LOK® was used to achieve long, watertight spans with concealed fixings. This allowed the roof to maintain an uninterrupted silhouette, essential to the building’s folded, geometric form.
Both profiles deliver durability and corrosion resistance in a coastal environment, ensuring the centre will continue to perform and look its best well into the future.
"The choice of SPANDEK® and KLIP-LOK® was well considered,” the judges noted. “Their durability and clean finish gave confidence that the building will perform in Warrnambool’s coastal conditions while maintaining its bold form.”
A Learning Environment with Purpose
Internally, the ERC is designed around Emmanuel College’s 9@RICE program, which groups students into three learning domains: Wisdom, Communication, and Discovery.
Shared studios and flexible teaching spaces encourage projectbased learning, while a protected central courtyard fosters connection and reflection. Historic statues were relocated into this courtyard, providing a symbolic link between past and present.
The building also includes an auditorium and specialised classrooms, giving Year 9 students access to facilities that balance independence with a strong sense of belonging.
Recognising Regional Design Excellence
The Lysaght Inspirations Design Awards Regional Design category celebrates projects that demonstrate design excellence in Australia’s regional settings. By combining local cultural references, robust material choices, and a learning environment that will serve generations of students, the ERC stood out as a worthy winner.
In recognition of this achievement, Baldasso Cortese Architects received a $5,000 prize, a reflection of Lysaght’s commitment to supporting outstanding design across the country.
A Lasting Place for Learning and Community
The Edmund Rice Centre is a reminder of what thoughtful architecture can deliver in a regional setting. It connects to local heritage, serves the daily needs of students and staff, and showcases the performance and versatility of LYSAGHT® building products. By blending durability, local character and modern learning spaces, the centre is set to support the College for many years to come.
Through the Lysaght Inspirations Design Awards, Lysaght is proud to highlight regional projects that show how good design, backed by durable Australian-made steel, can make a lasting difference to local communities.
