The Oak Centre at Clonard College reimagines the traditional STEM learning environment through interiors that prioritise wellbeing, flexibility and connection. Working in close collaboration with LiFE Architecture, SORA Interior Architecture & Design created a series of warm, contemporary spaces that support curiosity, collaboration and hands-on learning while respecting the College's rich heritage and landscape.
Rather than the clinical aesthetic often associated with science and technology facilities, the interiors embrace a calming palette of muted tones, natural textures and carefully considered materials to create an environment where students feel comfortable, confident and inspired to learn. Every space has been designed to balance functionality with warmth, recognising the important relationship between wellbeing and educational outcomes.
Flexible teaching spaces allow educators to adapt rooms to suit a wide range of learning styles, from traditional classroom instruction through to collaborative project work, experimentation and independent study. Generous breakout areas encourage informal learning, peer interaction and interdisciplinary collaboration, extending learning beyond the classroom walls.
The interior design also strengthens the building's role as a key connector within the broader campus masterplan. Clear sightlines, intuitive circulation and carefully integrated furniture and finishes create a cohesive experience that brings together Clonard College's previously separated precincts while reinforcing a strong sense of identity and place.
Throughout the project, SORA focused on creating spaces that feel welcoming, timeless and enduring. Natural light, soft finishes and carefully curated material selections contribute to an environment that supports concentration, creativity and student wellbeing every day.
The Oak Centre demonstrates how thoughtful interior architecture can transform educational spaces into places where innovation, connection and community thrive, providing Clonard College with a future-focused learning environment designed to evolve alongside contemporary education.
SORA Interiors brought the Foxford Innovation Centre to life with a dynamic interior design that supports the College’s vision for 21st-century STEAM education. Every detail—material, colour, and spatial relationship—was thoughtfully curated to reflect a sense of innovation, creativity, and connection. The interiors echo the building’s architectural sculptural language while offering warm, tactile finishes that create a sense of belonging and place.
With collaboration and visibility as core design drivers, SORA developed flexible interiors that support a seamless flow between disciplines. Open, light-filled breakout zones, writable walls, and agile furnishings encourage spontaneous collaboration and project-based learning. Specialist spaces, from food technology studios and digital design suites to maker spaces and science labs, are purpose-built yet interconnected, forming a cohesive educational ecosystem.
The central atrium—anchored by its sculptural staircase—is not just a circulation node but a social heart, encouraging interaction, assembly, and informal learning. Acoustic treatments, intuitive wayfinding, and biophilic cues throughout elevate the daily experience for students and staff alike.
SORA’s interior design delivers a future-ready environment that inspires curiosity and creativity while honouring the College’s legacy—a place where young minds are empowered to innovate, experiment, and lead.
Client: Parade College
Location: Bundoora
Completion: 2018
SORA Interior Architecture & Design collaborated with LiFE Architecture to deliver the interiors for the Parade College Learning Hub, creating a contemporary learning environment that supports flexible teaching, collaboration and independent study. At the heart of the development is a dynamic library and learning commons that physically and visually connects the new extension with the existing campus, reinforcing a cohesive educational precinct.
Designed to accommodate evolving learning pedagogies, the interiors provide a diverse mix of communal workspaces, quiet study zones and informal breakout areas that encourage students to learn in ways best suited to their individual needs. Warm material selections, abundant natural light and a restrained palette create welcoming spaces that promote focus, wellbeing and a strong sense of belonging.
The result is a highly adaptable learning environment that balances functionality with comfort, providing students and staff with inspiring spaces that foster collaboration, creativity and lifelong learning while supporting the College's vision for contemporary education.
Location: Hampton
Client: St Mary’s Primary School
The image of a thought bubble was the starting point for this project, which incorporates a ‘floating’ translucent element, reinforcing the concept that imagination is an essential part of learning. Hovering on a masonry base, the cloud structure provides a focal point that ties in to an ancient painting titled ‘Virgin and Child with Balaam the Prophet’ from the late 2nd century (located in the catacomb of Priscilla in Rome), which is referenced in the brick graphic to announce the multipurpose hall entry. A bold line of text in brick repeats ‘Mary’ and ‘Mother of God’ in different languages and scripts.
This project incorporates a multipurpose hall, classroom, staff room, library, tennis club room, and information and communication technology area. White translucent poly-carbonate cladding provides the learning spaces with controlled light, maintains good thermal qualities and responds to the all-white existing heritage buildings.
