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 and uniting the community occupying the building. The learning lounges and gallery occupying the central spaces give students a chance to mingle, learn and be inspired by others.
1/2 Ground Floor Plan
2/2 First Floor Plan
Technical performance
The project includes a 450-seat theatre with fly tower and associated change and back of stage facilities. Additional music and drama facilities include band and recording rooms, tutorial rooms, music library, instrument store and a black box studio. A specialist theatre consultant was engaged to enhance the performance outcomes of the theatre space and its back stage support facilities. Acoustic performance, so critical to music and theatre, is achieved throughout the building through planning and the implementation of sound isolating and absorbing materials and technologies.
“Mentone Grammar has an enviable reputation in the performing arts, with the School’s stunning Creativity Centre being a hub for creative passion and offering extraordinary resources to enable the best in music performance, dance, drama and theatre.”
KDA Team
Robert Bienvenu, Sarah Morrison, Claire Carson, Eldo Di Muccio, Allison Jessup
Acknowledgements
Photographer
Mark Farrelly