Ulumbarra Theatre
Project Details
Architects
Y2 Architecture
Award
Joint Winner Category: 3. Renovation/Modernisation / Over $2m
Address
Bendigo Senior Secondary College Gaol Rd Bendigo Victoria
Submitter
Matthew Dwyer
Cost
$25.8M
Project Overview
Ulumbarra Theatre is a Joint Use Performing Arts Centre, housed in a former Gaol on College Grounds. Consisting of 1000 seat 4-star Theatre (based on “Oh You Beautiful Stage’ Guidelines) as well as Dance, Drama, Music and Hospitality Spaces it serves both the college and the surrounding community.
Jury Citation
This project provides the broader architectural and educational design communities with a courageous and visionary example of collaboration between the College, Capitol Theatre, and government. This outstanding facility offers the students of Bendigo Senior Secondary an awe inspiring space in which to learn to become successful members of an established performing arts community.
In re-imagining a nineteenth century gaol, designed to isolate, as a place of growth and joyful connection the project team has demonstrated coherence of vision on a grand scale. This architectural solution thoughtfully responds to many competing and complex constraints, including the functional requirements of the new theatre and the multi-modal operation of the facility that integrates it into the community. All of this is elegantly achieved whilst dramatically re-purposing and celebrating the extant heritage fabric.
The clarity and legibility of the demarcation between heritage and new-build adheres to best practice and engages the building in the education potential of the site. The expression and resolution of functional areas, materials and building elements is at once elegant and instructive.
As such, we would like to add our voices to those who resoundingly affirm the success of this project, noting its contribution to the lives of those who learn within its walls and to those who look on with interest.
Built in 1861 the Sandhurst Gaol stands as part of a government precinct overlooking its city. Bendigo Senior Secondary College surrounds the Gaol, hosting around 1800 year 11 and 12 students on a tight campus block. In 2006 the gaol complex was transferred to the college, beginning a period of consultation with the college and community on the adaptation of this heritage listed facility into a Performing Arts Precinct.
From the principal:
The college’s objective was to use this opportunity to significantly enhance its performing arts program, both through the construction of new student facilities and the actors, musicians and performers who would utilise it. A new café to service the theatre and school students was complemented by two new adjoining school kitchens. Again, the intention was to provide our students with access to a commercial kitchen environment and to tap into the opportunities this provided.
The heritage overlay and the location of existing buildings created significant challenges as we explored various design options. Always we returned to the function of the spaces in terms of public gathering and education and the architects were very responsive to those needs.
It has provided opportunities for the following:
- Classroom programs in music, drama, theatre studies, dance and hospitality are now taught in high quality facilities. We have seen an increase in the number of students enrolling at the college for this reason.
- Students have been able to attend master classes and workshops run by theatre performers, gaining unprecedented access to world class instruction relevant to their own studies.
- Several students have undertaken work experience in back of stage in the theatre. Others have acted as volunteers.
- Students have been able to gain experience catering for large theatre events, assisting back of house and providing waiting service.
- We are developing plans with the commercial operators of the café for students to undertake structured work placement to support their VET studies.
- All our significant college events are now held in the theatre and our students have many opportunities to perform in that setting.
- Students gather at the café and in the surrounding courtyards throughout the day, drawing our student population up out of the nearby Rosalind Park.
The collaboration between the college, the local council and Y2 Architecture has been outstanding and has resulted in a set of new facilities that respond magnificently to the strategic and pedagogical needs of our college.