Kicking off the college’s development with new, world-class performing arts facility
The bigger picture
In 2018, King’s College embarked on a Property Master Plan. Its overall aim is to improve the College’s suitability of purpose, circulation, visitor experience and enhanced student centric environment. Stage one of the Master Plan is a new Performing Arts Centre, which we were engaged to project mange from inception. The Performing Arts Centre is critical to the Master Plan implementation, and will be the first ‘bookend’ to the whole college development.
A combined act
The success of the project will hinge on our ability to work collaboratively with consultants and contractors to achieve the College’s vision for their students and facility.
With the goal of attracting students and increasing arts participation, the building will incorporate a 250-seat theatre, orchestra room, rock room, practice rooms, teaching spaces, recording studio, dance studio, green room, storage, circulation space and associated facilities. While state of the art, its design also needed to be sympathetic to its surroundings including oak trees, heritage buildings and the existing Great hall.
Points of interest
- The theatre has been modelled on the Q Theatre, located on Queen Street in Auckland. This was a key directive from the College so that they can adapt the set up for performances ranging from speeches to full stage shows.
- The ‘look’ of King’s College is red brick. To work in with this, the Arts Centre façade will be comprised of precast concrete with brick façade overlay.
- King’s College class sizes rarely exceed 22 students per class, providing a low pupil-to-teacher ratio and ensuring students benefit from greater individual attention in the classroom.
