Blog

Building Opening – Gallery

On Friday 17 May, we celebrated the blessing and official opening of the new Fr Edward Cooper Building and recommissioned Fr Wallace Cornell Building. The buildings accommodate Salesian’s Reception, Student Services, Learning Support and Administration facilities.

The ceremony was officiated by the Provincial of the Salesians, Fr Will Matthews SDB, with City of Monash Mayor Cr Shane McCluskey, Steve Dimopoulos MP, Will Fowles MP and Class of 2003 past student and member of The Ten Tenors, Mr Adrian Li Donni performing.

The Fr Edward Cooper Building’s design philosophy was inspired by the founder of the Salesians, Don Bosco, and his concept of the Oratory as a home that welcomes. Architects Williams Ross incorporated a simple material palette, lightly coloured brickwork and exposed timber beams within the building, inspired by early historical photographs of Don Bosco’s original Oratory in Turin, Italy. Don Bosco’s early life as a craftsman inspired the use of folded metal elements in the building’s signage and main crucifix. The Fr Edward Cooper Building was funded by the first capital grant in our history, under the Victorian Government’s Capital Funding Program.

We thank all in our community who joined us in celebrating this significant occasion in our history, and those who contributed to the event’s success.