Belerren Sports and Wellness Centre at The Geelong College, Newtown

Belerren takes its name from the language of the Waddawurrung people of the Kulin nation, meaning ‘to shine,’ and reflects the school’s ambition for students to thrive both on and off the field. The centre anchors the western edge of the senior campus, framing the sporting precinct and linking it to ovals, training spaces and circulation routes across the site.

“The project began over 10 years ago with a comprehensive masterplan – this allowed the time and space for reflection and deep strategic thinking,” says Diego Bekinschtein, Associate Principal at Wardle. The extended planning period meant the design could be carefully considered, with flexibility and daily use in mind from the very beginning.

The brief called for a facility that could support a wide range of activities, from structured sports and PE classes to assemblies, training, and community events. At its heart are two full-sized courts designed to accommodate basketball, netball, volleyball, and badminton. 

“They really wanted a building that could serve as a hub for sport, learning, and community events,” Bekinschtein explains. Surrounding these are fitness and training spaces, change rooms, and classrooms that can host a variety of uses, from yoga and weights to informal study or recreational play.

Inside, the gymnasium hall is both technical and welcoming. Large glazed openings on the south and north elevations bring in natural light while connecting the interior to views across Mackie House and Rankin Field. “Careful consideration was given to how light interacts with the space, ensuring it enhances activity without causing glare or distraction,” Bekinschtein notes. The interior materials reinforce this: rock maple flooring, face concrete, cement sheet lining, and a mesh ceiling give the hall a natural yet precise feel, balancing durability with a sense of refinement.

Material choices extend to the exterior, where a custom brick blend echoes the campus’ historic buildings. Bay window curves, deep reveals, and colonnades break down the building’s scale and help it sit harmoniously within the college grounds. “The brickwork and facade elements resonate with other buildings on site, helping Belerren sit comfortably within its surroundings,” Bekinschtein adds.

A standout feature is the folded and perforated corten screen on the north elevation. This element softens sunlight, reduces glare, and allows filtered daylight into the gym. “The screen cuts out most of the sun but allows light in through fine perforation on the underside of the folded profile. The profiles were made in corten, a material that weathers to a brick-like terracotta colour,” Bekinschtein says.

Selecting Sun Shading

Natural light was a key part of the brief, both for wellbeing and to visually connect the gymnasium to its surroundings. At the same time, competition-level sport demands consistent lighting with minimal glare or contrast. 

“While the folded corten steel screen on the north elevation fulfilled most of the sun shading requirements, it did not provide the complete sun control required for competition,” Bekinschtein notes. To meet strict competition standards, additional measures were needed to control light precisely during high-level games.

Shade Factor supplied two elevated rows of motorised blackout zip-guided blinds installed internally. In total, 16 blinds were installed, each measuring 5.4 metres by 2.7 metres. “We workshopped a range of solutions until we landed on a zip style blind with headbox and guide channels that allow for complete light and sun control,” Bekinschtein explains.

When lowered, the blinds create a consistent lighting environment for competitions; when raised, they allow daylight and campus views to energise the space.

The powder-coated headboxes and guide rails align with the steel columns of the north elevation, allowing the blinds to integrate neatly within the building's structural framework. The charcoal fabric complements the restrained interior palette while providing the visual contrast required for badminton competition. “They are beautifully integrated into the elevation,” Bekinschtein adds.

Together with the corten screen, the blinds allow light conditions to be finely controlled for different activities and levels of play. The result is a flexible sporting environment that meets competition requirements while retaining the openness and connection to place that underpin the design.