Melville Senior High School’s new 300-seat theatre was designed by Cox Architecture to Department of Education brief requirements as part of the redevelopment of the school’s performing arts facilities.
The stand-alone theatre serves as an extension to the existing performing arts building, creating a new precinct that consolidates the school’s planning.
Positioned on a boundary adjacent to Leach Highway, the theatre creates a striking landmark for the school and offers north-facing vistas across the playing fields.
Tiered terracing to the oval can be utilized for teaching and passive recreation.
Cox Architecture designed the building as a simple collection of parts informed by their functional requirements.
The building has three components – performance space, foyer, and gallery.
Each can be used separately for teaching, providing exceptional functional flexibility.
The performance space uses precast concrete to create an acoustically separated black box.
The foyer is a flexible space with a lightweight steel frame, clad in compressed metal sheets.
The gallery is a glazed, steel-framed circulation spine that is naturally ventilated.
The three elements are united under a metal roof that folds across and around the components with no box gutters or parapets.
The roof connects the elements and extends to the ground, anchoring the building to the site.
Project Details
Project size – 635 m2
Project budget – $4,200,000
Completion date – 2019
Project Team
Architecture
Cox Architecture
COX is a design-focused contemporary architectural practice with studios located in every major Australian city and a history spanning 60 years.
The key to their ethos is supporting the public life of our cities. Cox does this by ensuring each project makes positive contributions to its public realm – giving more than it takes.
Photography
Greg Hocking
Greg Hocking has been specializing in the intricate field of architectural and interior photography, including aerial and landscape design since 1985.
Greg’s work has appeared in books and magazines as well as advertising campaigns and to document the work of leading architectural firms both within Australia and overseas.
Photo Gallery
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Design © 2020 Cox Architecture. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2020 Greg Hocking. All Rights Reserved.
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