Named after the College’s Founding Patron, the completed Neville Bonner Centre provides Hospitality Training, including commercial food prep, cooking, and plating areas, walk-in cold room, freezer, and pantry, commercial dishwashing equipment, and a heated pass connecting to a front-of-house service training area with hospitality service, point of sale, and barista training.

The precinct also provides indoor and outdoor, alfresco-style teaching, learning, and dining areas which accommodate “real world” learning opportunities such as school events, open days, and the like.

Aspects of the design were driven by Novum’s initial exploration of master planning and architectural considerations at Rivermount College which highlighted opportunities to strengthen physical and visual connections across the campus and provide more useable, active, and social external places.

Inspired by Rivermount College’s existing architectural features, and their strong connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities, the curved parapet design pays tribute to the life and legacy of the late Dr Neville Bonner AO.

CLIENT: Rivermount College

CLIENT TEAM: Richard Young (Principal), Ashley Thomas (Deputy Principal), Simon Wilkins (Business Manager), Dr Grant Watson (Property Committee Chair)

LOCATION: Gold Coast, Queensland / Yugambeh Country

ARCHITECT: Novum

Project Director: Joel Ridings

Project Delivery Leader: Peter Edwards

Project Team: Jeffrey Smith, Dave Mutuc, Josh Law & Peter Boyce

CONTRACTOR: Ashley Cooper Construction

CIVIL ENGINEER: Bligh Tanner

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Bligh Tanner

HYDRAULIC ENGINEER: Compass Consulting Group

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: WalkerBai Consulting

MECHANICAL ENGINEER: WalkerBai Consulting

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Anderson Energy Efficiency

CERTIFIER: Bartley Burns

QUANTITY SURVEYOR: Mitchell Brandtman