Building A New Future - Blackburn’s Opinion on New STEM Centre

Since approving funding for a STEM Centre back in 2021, construction has begun on the new building. Already, the ‘Old Freeman’ building has been demolished and workers are in the process of replacing it with a new facility for students and teachers to use. Demolition of the old building began in Term Four of last year, while the first hints of construction took place over the summer holidays when there were no students to interrupt the proceedings. 

Official Render of STEM Centre

There has been some contention and debate as to whether the STEM acronym (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) should be changed to STEAM, to include the arts. Bronwyn Roach, one of Blackburn’s Visual Communication Design teachers, would be happy for a change like this to occur. “Yes, yes absolutely,” she said, when asked about the acronym. Whether or not VisCom and other visual arts classes will move location to the STEM Centre is still undecided, but it would be a welcome upgrade from the dingy ‘Old Dunlop’ building they currently take place in. 

Since the construction of the Centre, some Year 12s students have had complaints about the constructions affecting their studying, saying that it has been very disruptive. “It’s a bit ugly. Can smell a bit,” said one of the students.

Construction site taken by Mr. Damian Quinn

There are rumours that suggest that the staff who work in Hollows and Melba could be relocated into the new centre, although there are no official words from the principal team yet. Hollows and Melba staff would be incredibly excited about such a change, as it would give them a much-improved office space compared to  the facilities currently provided by the ancient 500 Block.