ABBOTSLEIGH COLLEGE – WHEELDON HOUSE

WAHROONGA, NSW

SECTOR

Accommodation, Educational

STATUS

Complete

COMPLETION YEAR

2008

ARCHITECT

Mayoh Architects

Overview

Wheeldon House is a purpose-built boarding facility accommodating Years 11 and 12 girls at Abbotsleigh College, providing 32 rooms per house along with residences for Boarding Coordinators and Resident Assistants. The new development occupies a 16,500sqm site and replaces an existing dwelling at No. 18 Lucinda Avenue.

Construction Features

Split-Level Integration

We stepped the five-storey building across a 12 m slope, maintaining a maximum two-storey presence along much of the site and rising to 18 m at its southern end—designed to respect the site’s topography

Accessible Boarding Amenities

We delivered a fully accessible boarding environment featuring level walkways (1:20 – 1:33), TV lounges opening to terraces, grassed recreation areas, and disabled access throughout

Landscape & Heritage Respect

The layout was carefully positioned around existing strands of native Blue Gum High Forest, preserving key trees as integral elements of the facility’s outdoor spaces

Sustainable Systems Implementation

All roof rainwater is harvested and reused in toilets (44) and laundries (2), under-floor heating was installed in bedrooms and common areas, and sun shading was provided to north-facing windows—supporting passive comfort and energy efficiency