Event Recap · LENSW · 26 March 2026

Learning Beyond the Classroom: Inside Marsden Park Anglican College's New Learning Hub

A Start in Life has spent more than a hundred years working toward a single idea: that where you come from should never determine how far you go. Learning Environments Australasia has been asking a different, but deeply connected question for just as long. Last month, these two missions met in Western Sydney.

Since 1923, we have stood behind students across NSW and ACT who face real financial barriers to education, from primary school through to university. Learning Environments Australasia, founded in 1921, has spent over a century exploring what it means to design spaces where students can truly thrive. Not just functional places, but environments that put the learner first and support collaboration, wellbeing, and more effective learning experiences.

We are proud to share that A Start in Life is now working alongside the NSW Chapter of Learning Environments, LENSW, in support of the next generation of students. A recent LENSW event gave us a vivid glimpse of what that shared purpose looks like in practice.

Marsden Park Anglican College

Attendees were given an up-close look at one of Western Sydney's most thoughtfully designed learning environments: the new Impact Hub at Marsden Park Anglican College. The visit offered valuable insight into how well-designed spaces can influence the way students learn, teachers teach, and communities connect.

The event opened with remarks from Holly de Jong, followed by David Bryant, who walked attendees through the evolution of the master plan. Principal Darren Cox then spoke about the challenges of designing for a growing school, highlighting the need for spaces that remain flexible as the campus continues to expand.

A Space Built with Intention

From the moment you walk in, the design philosophy is clear. The building's name, the Impact Hub, signals its purpose, reinforcing what each space is intended to inspire. Even the materials reflect this thinking, with locally manufactured carpet by Interface in nearby Minto contributing to a broader commitment to Australian-made design.

Designed by Alleanza Architecture, the building has already made a strong impression on students. They described it as creative, culturally connected, and visually striking. One noted they now walk up to 20,000 steps a day with everything in one place, while another praised the layout as "sophisticated" — high praise from a high schooler, and clearly well earned.

Hearing It Straight from the Students

Attendees were invited into the vision behind Marsden Park by Principal Darren Cox, whose focus is on building a Christ-centred, future-focused learning community where students are empowered to lead with purpose and integrity. His approach to spaces like the Impact Hub goes beyond innovation, aiming to create environments where students feel supported and motivated to engage with the world around them.

A highlight of the day was hearing directly from students, who shared candid reflections on their experience. When asked what sets their school apart, the answer was immediate: the environment their teachers create. Students spoke about the energy and encouragement they receive, and how that shapes their own engagement.

With four year groups sharing the same space, the design has fostered connection rather than division. Older students naturally build relationships with younger peers, with mentorship and collaboration emerging through everyday interaction.

How Educators Experience It

“Our space enables learning to feel less like school and more like an environment that prepares students for real-world employment.”

Christine, Educator — Marsden Park Anglican College

The hub moves away from traditional classroom structures, supporting both independent and collaborative work within a single, flexible environment. Teachers spoke about the trust the space creates, both in how they teach and how students take ownership of their learning.

The impact is visible in student confidence, behaviour, and the way they engage with one another.

A Community, Not Just a Campus

One of the most distinctive aspects of Marsden Park's approach is how the space extends beyond students and staff. Parents are welcomed into the centre as a remote workspace, creating a meaningful connection between school life and the wider community. It's a simple but powerful idea that reinforces the hub's purpose: not just as a place of learning, but of belonging.

The design encourages a cooperative, hive-like model of learning: open, connected, and human. As one educator noted, the building doesn't just reflect the school's culture. It actively helps shape it.

A Start in Life — proudly in a supporting relationship with LENSW, NSW Chapter of Learning Environments Australasia