St James College Junior Quad Planters
An Innovative Outdoor Space Upgrade
for St James College
The application of Corian® at St. James College’s School Amenities exhibits an admirable amalgamation between aesthetics, functionality and an innovative – yet cost-effective solution. The innovative application echoes with the restrained visual language throughout the school’s other spaces, while also responding to the need for bacteria-free surfaces in high traffic zones. The aim of the project was to fabricate exterior planters with integrated seating. The much needed refurbishment comprised planting, seating and reparation of weathered pavements around the junior quadrangle. The task needed to adopt non-destructive and non-disruptive construction operations since the area had to be kept accessible for students and staff to use throughout. Moreover, the quadrangle was considered a recreational and transitional zone for the school so it was imperative to minimise any disturbance to the site for all stakeholders. Each aspect of the project was managed by specialised teams to minimise overall construction costs. On average, by adopting and implementing this method of operating instead of delivering the entire project under a head contract, construction costs were reduced by 20%.
Flexible and multi-functional space
The proposal by Outlines Landscape Architecture offered a flexible and multi-functional space, fitting ideally within an educational environment. With the appropriate material (in this case Corian®), it was possible to integrate seating into the end of the curved planters. This multifaceted proposition permits the space to be used for assemblies, outdoor teaching spaces and a break or recess-time active areas. Simultaneously, existing concrete pavement was surfaced and retreated with specific patterns for accentuated pathways and designated handball courts.
Smooth clean crisp finish
Popular in the design and construction industry for its slab form, Corian® is flexible enough to be shaped to fit any design requirements. At St. James College, Corian® was selected for the raised planters with integrated seating due to its flexibility and ability to continuously maintain a crisp-clear finish. Specifically, Dove – a grey colour resembling concrete – was chosen as the appropriate colour and finish for the project. The visual and physical quality of using this material and colour in an exterior application was suitable to the high-traffic educational environment.
Fluid forms curved in various directions
With an added 10 year warranty, it is highly evident that the material and colour is stable, easy to clean and weatherproof. Conclusively, the use of Corian® with a Dove finish furnished the elevated space. With Corian®, expectations in its flexible characteristic and quality of finishes are exceeded and exhibited in this project. Indeed, longevity from Corian® products was also an important factor when specifying for such environments, but also with consideration to minimise any disruption to the school, future construction processes can now be avoided.
Quality of finish
“The use of Corian® with Dove finish provides a much needed lift to this space. The use of Corian® has met expectations in its flexibility and quality of finish exhibited on this project. ” Gary Ford Director, Outlines Landscape Architecture.
Design vesatility, performance, exceptional durability and renewability
The design versatility and performance features of Corian®, the availability of different colours and aesthetics, custom colours, textures and finishes, the ability to shape and form the material, its exceptional durability and renewability – have led a number of architects and designers to use Corian® for exterior large scale applications.
Other Projects

Microsoft, North Sydney
Located within 1 Denison Street in North Sydney, the new Microsoft Australia Head Office breaks the mould of a traditional workplace and is a fully immersive experience. Thanks to the collective expertise of the GroupGSA team. Microsoft’s hybrid office experience features intelligent lighting, robotics and advanced workplace occupancy sensors linked to Microsoft platforms. The 10,000sqm […]

Corian® on show in Sydney’s luxurious Opera Residences
Positioned to enjoy the most iconic views of Sydney, the Opera Residences at Bennelong Point reflects design and style that is true to Sydney’s wealth of architectural talent. Designed by Tzannes Architects, in collaboration with Interior Designers, Make and Executive Architects Crone; style and elegance resonates throughout, and incorporates the creator’s passion for light, space […]

Island Retreat
This island getaway renovation project blends practical high-end materials with sophisticated organic design techniques and the latest technologies to create an elegantly timeless and serene weekend escape for the client. The overall design brief for the project was to creatively transform the existing beach house into a very open and subdued glamorous island retreat that […]

Benson Street
The key to the success of this modern, minimalist kitchen was to split the kitchen island into two equal parts, to allow for good circulation and access. It also created a stunning design statement. The two feature Corian® islands in this kitchen are mirror images of each other. They have a waterfall at one end […]

Atmosphere Gym
Alicia Xiberras Interiors recently completed design works for the reception and change room facilities at Atmosphere Signature, Napean River. The health and fitness centre is designed to be unlike anything ever experienced before, with world-class facilities, technologies and innovations throughout the club. The use of Corian® for the gym reception counter, bathroom vanities and foyer bench […]

McDonald’s Sydney International Airport
Floating above the departing passengers, and announcing itself from afar, is a glowing yellow glass box; a new McDonald’s at Sydney Airport’s Terminal 1, designed by Landini Associates in collaboration with McDonald’s Australia. The brief for the restaurant was simple: create an iconic, memorable customer experience, like nothing seen before in restaurant design. For Landini, […]

Coledale
Based in the Illawarra, Rachael Miklas Design and Detail is a trusted local interior design studio specialising in new construction and renovations in the local area. Rachael was entrusted with the design for Coledale, a new build right on the waterfront. The home lends itself to light and breezy atmosphere, where simplicity and cleverly thought […]

Arch Deco
Anne Hindley and the team at Hindley & Co Architecture and Interiors used tone-on-tone colour and space layering to reinvigorate this grand double storey heritage house in Balwyn. Anne amplified the great features of the original house and got playful with referencing them in the contemporary rework. The existing arches of the library and the […]

Chic Centrefold
New Zealand designer Annika Rowson has just unveiled this elegant beauty – a third kitchen in her Rowson Kitchens showroom. Having a showroom that changes every couple of years enables Annika not only to showcase leading edge materials, concepts and functional features in kitchen design, but also to personally challenge herself to apply materials in […]

Hotel Sofitel Brussels, Le Louise, Belgium
Monumental wall covering in translucent lacework of DuPont™ Corian® solid surface turns Brussels hotel into a place of pilgrimage for design lovers When Portuguese designer, architect, artist and top chef Antoine Pinto takes on a new project he gives it 200% of his creativity, as witnessed in the reopening of the Hotel Sofitel Brussels Le Louise, […]

St Vincents Private Hospital
Corian® was selected as the primary wall lining material for the refurbishment of Operating Rooms at St Vincents Private Hospital Sydney, following a collaborative prototyping process including rigorous bacterial, chemical, stain and impact resistance testing. Critically, the seamless joining capabilities of Corian® allowed the walls to be constructed without any visible conventional joints which are natural weak points […]