A sustainable, cost-effective stage for students

Melville Senior High School - Theatre

When Melville Senior High School set out to develop their new Performing Arts Centre, their goals were flexible teaching opportunities, display accommodation, and circulation space within a striking, bespoke building. Our job? Working closely with Cox Architecture to design the electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, and sustainability portions.

One of our main focuses was on investigating existing infrastructure. By modeling the energy requirements for the centre, we determined that the new load would not exceed current capabilities, which meant major capital cost savings. We used ground penetrating radar to identify existing hydraulic routes, allowing services to be relocated to accommodate construction, and we used 3D REVIT to maximise the layout within the limited space and coordinate services. Our mechanical team also identified an opportunity to use outside air to minimise plant size and reduce energy consumption, significantly reducing capital and ongoing operational costs.

Combining specialist lighting and audio/visual connections, sustainability investigations, and numerous cost-saving solutions, the new facility advances the school’s teaching opportunities. As a standalone extension to the existing performing arts building, the new centre provides programming flexibility and consolidates the school’s planning.