Glen Waverley South Primary School, commissioned by the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA), is located in Glen Waverley, Victoria. Delivered as the first stage of an $18.5 million masterplan by Sibling Architecture in collaboration with the VSBA and the school community, the project introduces two new buildings that significantly enhance the campus and its learning environments.
One building houses the new school entry, administration and staff facilities, alongside STEAM-focused spaces including science, technology, library and performing arts areas. The second building provides flexible learning neighbourhoods designed to support team teaching and collaborative learning. Together, the buildings establish a contemporary, future-focused campus that supports both structured learning and adaptability over time.
CSR products used
Challenge
Acoustic performance was a key consideration, as the VSBA client required each room to meet specific acoustic ratings. Amelia Borg, Co-Director at Sibling Architecture, explained, “The VSBA have quite strict acoustic requirements, so each room has to meet a specific rating. Given those requirements, all of the products we chose had to help achieve those ratings, which was a major factor in our decision.”
Balancing these acoustic needs with budget and aesthetic goals was a central challenge, particularly in open and collaborative spaces where noise control is critical.
Solution
Gyprock Rigitone 8mm ceiling panels were selected as the primary ceiling solution throughout the school’s general learning areas and classrooms. The perforated plasterboard system provided the required acoustic performance while delivering a smooth, continuous ceiling finish that aligned with the architectural intent.
Rigitone was selected for its strong acoustic performance and its ability to deliver a refined, continuous appearance. Rigitone’s ability to create a seamless surface was particularly valuable in teaching spaces, where visual calm and consistency help support student focus. The panels allowed joins to appear continuous, contributing to a cohesive ceiling aesthetic rather than a segmented one.
Amelia Borg noted, “Rigitone provides a seamless surface that makes the joins appear continuous, giving a much more cohesive look, which we really like.” This adaptability gave the design team greater freedom to coordinate ceilings with walls, joinery and learning furniture, reinforcing a sense of unity across classrooms.
Acoustically, the Rigitone ceilings support speech clarity and reduce reverberation, helping create focused, comfortable environments for both students and teachers. To address spaces with higher levels of activity and collaboration, Himmel Troldtekt Ultrafine panels were used in adjacent shared and breakout areas. This complementary approach allowed each space to be treated according to its acoustic demands while maintaining a cohesive overall aesthetic across the campus.
Through the considered use of Gyprock Rigitone 8mm, supported by Himmel Troldtekt Ultrafine in more communal zones, Glen Waverley South Primary School delivers high-performing learning environments that meet strict VSBA requirements while remaining visually refined and cost effective.
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Project credits
Architect: Sibling Architecture
Builder: Renew Construction
Reseller: Plaster Plus
Photographer: Peter Bennetts
