ST JOHN’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL
JOHN BRAY CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS
The John Bray Centre for Performing Arts is a new learning environment that enabled students to develop confidence and skills in all aspects of theatre, music and drama. It was fundamental for the school to provide a new facility that supports contemporary teaching and learning principles to compliment the school’s vision for Music and the Arts.
Walter Brooke developed design for a new performing arts centre east of a state heritage building; Retreat House. The two-storey building contains a 119 seat capacity auditorium with a full sized stage, music practice rooms, music theory room and green rooms, general learning areas, staff office, kitchenette on the ground floor and bio box on the first floor.
The new ‘music courtyard’ located between the new building and the existing Retreat House was created as an active focal point for outdoor concerts, performances, school community gatherings and events.
The form and use of materials of the new building are sympathetic to the heritage building‘s built form and material palette. Careful composition and detailing of the building elements complement the artistic nature of the new facility. Passive design principle has been implemented through extensive use of sunshade, screen elements and high performance glass.