Project Description

The refurbishments at Cecilia Square and adjacent Café Caterina breathe new life into the heart of San Sisto College, transforming under-used spaces into vibrant gathering places for the school community.

At Cecilia Square, a new canopy creates a lush, shady environment that draws students and staff in throughout the day. Its appearance takes its cues from the college's Catholic heritage — evoking the forms of cathedral architecture through considered geometry and proportion, while remaining contemporary in its execution.

Brick arches ground the design in the traditions of the college's namesake roots, creating a sense of permanence and place that connect the school to its cultural history. Climbing vines soften the architecture, while carefully considered garden beds bring colour, texture, and fragrance the square.

Branching off the square is Café Caterina, where a previously dark and neglected undercroft has been transformed into a light-filled canteen and social hub. Custom-designed seating lends the interior a considered, collegiate character, while a new acoustic batten ceiling tempers the energy of a busy café environment, ensuring the space is as comfortable as it is welcoming. Planting continues from the square into the café interior, maintaining a botanical thread that unifies the two spaces.