Vertical schools providing a feeling of 'transcendence' for students

Brisbane, Australia, is embracing vertical schools as a solution to accommodate its growing urban population and alleviate pressure on existing educational facilities. As the city expands and inner-city land becomes scarce, experts advocate for the expansion of these innovative, high-rise educational environments.

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There is a demand for high schools in inner-city locations and a shortage of land. There are more and more families living in apartments and inner-city … and the high schools that are servicing [those areas], Kelvin Grove State College and Brisbane State High are already way oversubscribed with students.

Designed to maximize efficiency in urban spaces, vertical schools incorporate elements like atria, stairs, and balconies, along with multi-use areas. This contrasts with the traditional lateral layout of suburban schools. The first dedicated vertical school in Brisbane, Fortitude Valley State Secondary College (FVSSC), opened in 2020, initially serving 137 year seven students and designed to relieve pressure on the nearby Kelvin Grove Secondary College. Brisbane South State Secondary College followed in 2021, also aiming to ease overcrowding at Brisbane State High School.

Professor Jill Willis from Queensland University of Technology, who has researched the effectiveness of these schools, notes the significant demand for high schools in inner-city areas where land is limited. "There are more and more families living in apartments and inner-city… and the high schools that are servicing [those areas]… are already way oversubscribed with students," she explained. Vertical schools, she added, are a practical response to this need, utilizing small land plots for tall buildings.

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So vertical schools are small blocks of land, tall buildings that can meet a growing need for families.

Research conducted at FVSSC with graduating students revealed that the unique environment of vertical schools can positively impact student interactions and community connection. Students reported a heightened sense of "transcendence, or connection to something bigger." FVSSC principal Chrissie Coogan observed that young people adapt well to these environments, developing greater independence and a sense of ownership over their learning. Students take pride in attending a school designed for the future, she said.

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When we interviewed the students, they had a very sophisticated understanding of how to live together and live well.

The study, published in the journal Learning, Media and Technology, highlights how changes in students' physical environment can alter their social dynamics. The students interviewed demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of coexisting and living well within the school's vertical structure. This suggests that well-designed vertical schools can foster a stronger sense of belonging and community among students, even in a high-rise setting.

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We found that when these schools are designed well, they actually heighten connection for students, and this was across a few different dimensions.