After a year of transformation, the Shrewsbury building is finally emerging from its wrap and scaffolding, ready to reclaim its place on Dio’s campus.
Shrewsbury has been the focus of an ambitious renovation project that began in late 2024 and we are now moving into the internal fitout phase of this project. With a comprehensive overhaul of the entire building and the addition of a mezzanine level, it will feel like a brand-new space – tailored to inspire and support our students’ creativity.
The Shrewsbury building is home to our specialist creative spaces, housing a wide range of visual arts and creative disciplines. Classrooms span painting, photography, printmaking, design, material design technology, food technology, and more. It is the hub that allows students to develop skills through practical learning, applying knowledge and creativity in equal measure.
Progress to Date
Significant milestones have already been achieved:
- Complete gutting of the building
- Installation of new upper and lower roof
- Ground floor, Level 1, and mezzanine windows and glazing installed
- Louvre and Nu-Wall cladding installed on Level 1
- Internal joinery delivered and installation underway on the ground floor
- Level 1 and mezzanine wall framing completed
- Lift installation
What’s Planned in the Coming Months
As the project moves into its final stages, the next steps include:
- Ongoing scaffold removal
- Internal fittings for the mezzanine and first floor
- Continued stair installation
- GIB and insulation work
- Services
- Civil and grounds work
Creative Disciplines Under One Roof
When the internal structures are complete, we will unify creative disciplines under one roof. Some Creative Industries areas will move from the Centennial Building into Shrewsbury.
Matt Bennett (Head of Faculty, Creative Industries) explains that this project will allow Dio to broaden our Creative Industries offering:
“We will be reintroducing a workshop/maker-space area within the Shrewsbury building. This new maker-space will give students the opportunity to model and develop products in a variety of materials, and we will also be creating another Fab Lab within this space to support the production of innovative creative projects.”
A Creative Hub for the Future
The refurbished Shrewsbury building represents far more than bricks and mortar. It embodies Dio’s commitment to creativity, innovation, and community. As the new home for our creative hubs, it will provide state-of-the-art spaces for art, design, and collaborative projects – empowering students to think differently, explore boldly, and bring their ideas to life. The mezzanine floor will also provide an exhibition space for the Visual Arts faculty.
One important element of the build are the two sweeping staircases encased in a perforated balustrade which a group of Creative Industry students have designed. These will showcase their work and will be a lasting legacy to the school.
Removal of the Temporary Teaching Village
Throughout the renovation, teaching and learning have continued in the temporary teaching village on the school field. These classrooms ensured uninterrupted learning while Shrewsbury was under construction. With the English Patterson building set to be renovated in Term 1, the teaching village will be removed over the April 2026 holidays, returning all classes to their permanent home in Term 2. This will then mean the welcome return of our school field for sport and recreation – a green space we have missed and are eager to reclaim.
Project Timeline
- Construction began in December 2024.
- Scaffolding will be fully removed in September 2025.
- The remainder of 2025 will be dedicated to completing the interior refurbishment and civil works.
- The project will be completed by the end of 2025, with students returning to the Shrewsbury building on the first day of teaching in 2026.
We cannot wait to share the refurbished Shrewsbury building with you. More updates will follow in the coming months.
