Grand designs: Pitches for back oval’s future

Blackfriars’ back oval would be transformed with a multi-sports hub and grandstand seating, under plans developed by a group of students.

Owen Stanborough’s Year 10 Architecture students were challenged to develop mock plans for the back oval, incorporating tennis courts, a grandstand with capacity for at least 70 people, a soccer pitch and changerooms.

For his presentation, student Juan Carlos Kilapio created a company, Mini Metropolis, complete with logo and business cards.

_{Juan Carlos Kilapio presents his ideas for Blackfriars’ back oval as part of his Year 10 Architecture studies.}

His design for the back oval incorporated a three-storey, multi-use sporting complex, including spaces for basketball, table tennis, tennis and boxing, as well as a nature play space for the ELC students.

He said the current back oval space was “lacklustre”.

“(We wanted to show how) Blackfriars could utilise this space, the back oval, into something that puts (the school) head and shoulders above their competitors,” he said.

Classmate Daniel Mazzarolo’s design included a north-facing grandstand, multi-purpose pitch, athletics track and a multi-storey, west-facing building at the rear of the campus.

Samuel Monteleone’s “company”, Monteleone Constructions, has the motto “You dream it, we build it”.

Samuel was one of a handful of students to include an indoor pool in his multi-storey design.

“I believe that adding a sports complex and a grandstand to the back oval will not only be helpful for co-curricular and PE lessons, but it will get more parents’ attention looking for a school to enrol their son in,” Samuel said.

_{Samuel Monteleone presents his concept for the redevelopment of the back oval.}

The students were required to consult with key people within the school community to ensure their designs meet space and co-curricular requirements.

Mr Stanborough, who invited several staff members to help judge the students’ designs, said pitching an idea to a panel was a “vital part of being an architect” and a “valuable experience” for the boys.

Under the school’s masterplan, the maintenance sheds at the rear of the back oval will be relocated and the space redeveloped with 3×3 basketball courts.

Meanwhile, Mr Stanborough’s Year 11 students last term completed 3D models of proposed grandstands for the back oval.