A ‘top out’ for St Ignatius College and their $24m Senior Centre

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A ‘top out’ for St Ignatius College, who eagerly await the completion of their $24m MacKillop Senior Centre

June 22, 2023

The CDF team celebrated with St Ignatius College, Geelong, at their ‘top out’ ceremony, for the eagerly anticipated MacKillop Senior Centre. The ceremony, a construction tradition, marked the completion of the building frame, with the final structural beam being raised into place.

The College’s Senior Centre, due to be completed in August 2024, will consist of a 400-seat lecture theatre. 16 general learning areas, a dedicated ‘maker space’, gallery and breakout areas, a learning deck and staff offices alongside additional student amenities.

The project will help the College fulfil its mission in creating compassionate future community leaders, who have social justice at the heart of their education. Michael Exton, Principal explains “our young women and men share educational experiences and leadership opportunities and, in the process, they learn to understand, respect and appreciate each other in a co-educational environment which prepares them for life beyond school.”

CDF bared witness to this earlier in the year, where St Ignatius Year 11 Student, Curtis, was selected and awarded the CDF Father James Wall Bursary for 2022. Curtis was a very deserving recipient, and only one of four students who were awarded the bursary in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

The scale of the Senior Centre development is one of the largest in the area at present and also the largest undertaken by the college. Totalling $24 million, predominantly funded by CDF, the project will see Stage Three of the school master plan come to life; supporting the community and students of the growing Bellarine Peninsula community.

Mr Exton reflected on the ongoing construction and the opportunities it will present. “Each day, with over 1400 students and 170 staff, I look across at the construction site, curious and excited about the changes happening before our eyes, as the Plan Group team and their workers add new pieces to the puzzle that will become a striking landmark and impressive front presentation of our school. The additional facilities and amenities this project will provide will enhance student learning outcomes.”

Representatives from Plan Group, architects ClarkeHopkinsClarke, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) and CDF, together with Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant MP, visited the college for the ceremony.

To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist Colleges like St Ignatius and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do. Learn more and apply today.

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