The new Performing Arts Centre at Loyola College in Watsonia consists of a 500-seat auditorium theatre, back of house areas, dressing and control rooms, foyers, dance studio, music practice rooms and administration areas.
External works included roadways, car parking for 25 vehicles to the west of the building and a car park for 7 vehicles to the east of the building, landscaping and associated site works.
The building was designed to incorporate many architectural finishes including acoustic panelling, feature metalwork, glazed brickwork, bluestone paving, curtain walling and timber panelling. Technical elements involved extensive services which was vital to ensure the buildings’ acoustic requirements and functionality provided the best facilities for the school. Design and functionality features include:
- High performance building fabric to reduce the demand on active systems;
- Passive solar design;
- Mature trees to the west to allow natural screening and shading, and deciduous trees in the forecourt to allow the sun to penetrate the building in winter and provide shading in summer;
- Effective thermal mass with the use of concrete slabs and cavity brick walls;
- Consideration of occupant’s thermal comfort through use of sustainable materials and low VOC products;
- Addition of 6 new water tanks for rainwater harvesting to serve landscape irrigation;
- Permeable paving to reduce stormwater runoff;
- Provision of natural lighting and external views;
- Extensive operable windows to provide natural ventilation; and
- Reduction in car parking, thus encouraging the use of public transport.
