MENTONE GRAMMAR CREATIVITY CENTRE
The new Creativity Centre brings together the disciplines of Performing & Visual Arts and Food & Materials Technology in a single building, which centres around a 450-seat, state-of-the-art multimedia theatre.
Project Type
Education/ Performing Arts/ Science & Creative Arts/ Food & Hospitality
Client
Mentone Grammar
Traditional Owners
Bunurong people
Completed
2017
Multi-disciplinary problem solving
The brief for this project outlined the desire to encourage dynamic and integrated creativity across all disciplines, acknowledging that the problem solving skills essential to the creative process are transferable to all aspects of learning. The variety of activities grouped together within the Creativity Centre, from visual & performing arts, audio engineering & robotics, through to set design and food technology, give endless opportunities for creative endeavour.
From the project’s inception, the intent was to encourage occupants of the building to share and integrate learning from a multitude of disciplines, and to share these creative outcomes with the broader community. The physical environment is designed to encourage collaboration and interaction.
1/2 Ground Floor Plan
2/2 First Floor Plan
Complex brief requirements
Extensive consultation with the staff of each faculty was undertaken at various design stages to obtain a deep understanding of the particular needs of each specialty. This ensured the physical equipment, spatial and environmental (light, acoustic, ventilation) needs particular to each area of study were adequately catered for.
The manual technology area is positioned away from performing and visual learning areas to assist with acoustic control. The location of the art studios with a southerly aspect allows for diffuse natural light where it is required. Motorised curtain controls to the theory room allows for the projection of films and slides when needed.
KDA Team
Robert Bienvenu, Sarah Morrison, Claire Carson, Eldo Di Muccio, Allison Jessup
Acknowledgements
Photographer
Mark Farrelly