Our Lady of Sion College Performing Arts Centre
Project Details
Architects
Law Architects
Address
1065 Whitehorse Rd Box Hill , VIC 3128 Australia
Submitter
Law Architects
Cost
$4.5million
Photographer
George Theodoridis
Project Overview
This 340-seat theatre with reconfigurable ancillary spaces set in the heart of the campus provides a professional level performance venue for the college and wider community. Strategically keying into surrounding buildings it visually and physically connects previously separate adjoining uses whilst maximising every available corner for performance, storage or social purposes.
The Miriam Performing Arts Centre bears testament to the year-long extensive consultation process with a diverse range of user groups. This ongoing community engagement was paramount, and with the involvement of specialist acoustic engineers, theatre and audiovisual consultants the result is a building that successfully reflects this three-way dialogue, ensuring the multiplicity of day and night uses and variety of moods imagined at its inception were realised.
The significant move towards visually connected learning enables teachers to engage with the challenges and joys of contemporary learning spaces and have elevated their ability to engage with conversations about ‘space ‘. The early decision to actively engage with all adjoining uses in the tight setting has resulted in every possible corner being used to full effect. Yet it does so without creating a visual and physical barrier to all adjacent spaces.
The layout and flexibility of the building facilitate timetable challenges and allow spaces to interact with each other as well as ensuring multiple spaces can be used concurrently. Regular classes, rehearsals, intimate performances, presentations, assemblies, large scale productions as well as gatherings and daily school cafe operation can co-exist and transition seamlessly.
The material palette is modern and contemporary yet timeless, professional and elegant, and ensure the moods within the spaces can be readily adapted to suit small and large scale daily use and performance. Natural light has been sought at every opportunity, minimizing the need for artificial lighting, and the acoustic quality and separation between spaces further demonstrate the multidimensional success of the building.
Many of the college ‘s ensembles, choirs and soloists now have the opportunity to perform in an on-campus professional venue where they are given a proper feel for the real-world and professional level musicians and actresses, thus further inspiring their own ambitions and greater learning.
