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.
Completed
2017
Traditional Owners
Bunurong people
Project Type
Education/ Performing Arts/ Science & Creative Arts/ Food & Hospitality
Client
Mentone Grammar
Cross pollination
When Mentone Grammar set out to develop a fully integrated Creativity Centre, the vision was a hub for cross-disciplinary interaction and collaboration—the boundaries between the building’s diverse programmatic functions would be blurred between spaces and across floors, and even outdoor breakout spaces and courtyards would become extensions of the indoor learning spaces.
The design is oriented around a central chasm through the building, encouraging physical and visual connections between the various areas. The learning lounges and gallery occupying the central spaces give students a chance to mingle, learn and be inspired by others. Servery windows in the food technology kitchen allow for food and drink serving internally to the gallery function spaces and externally to the laneway, courtyard and existing sporting fields.
Technical performance
The brief for food technology facilities in this building required that the space fulfill multiple functions, all with varying requirements. A specialist commercial kitchen consultant was engaged to ensure that all food preparation, storage areas and equipment complied with relevant health standards and met the following functions:
A functioning commercial kitchen for café-style food service generally, but with sufficient capacity and capability to serve larger functions and events.
A progressive food technology kitchen for a VET program to suit 10 students.
A food technology kitchen to teach up to 24 students in lower year levels.
KDA Team
Robert Bienvenu, Sarah Morrison, Claire Carson, Eldo Di Muccio, Allison Jessup
Acknowledgements
Photographer
Mark Farrelly