Sunshine Coast Grammar School Visual Art Centre

Three large sawtooth roofs provide volume to the spaces and enable clerestory windows to provide natural light to the spaces below. From the entry, the wide main circulation spine creates a gallery space for permanent display of student work. It provides access to the art studios, GLA, multimedia and dark rooms as well as staff and support spaces. Aligned under the roof the three large art studios are separated by shared art media stores. Each studio has a secure, semi-enclosed, interconnected art court creating a large teaching and learning space.

Guided by the flood modelling, the flood and civil engineers ensured the building achieved ood immunity as well as ensuring the proposed building did not have any impact on the extent and severity of flooding on the remainder of the school site and adjoining properties.

Together with the structural and service engineers the large volumes of space were achieved in the studios ensuring mechanical services were limited to bulkheads and spaces above storerooms.

School budgets are modest, with value for money a consideration of any capital works program. Given the school had originally planned a refurbishment and extension of the existing building, the demolition and construction of a new building came with an increase in cost. The school however saw value in having a new purpose-built building which was able to be better tailored to their needs.

The art courts are semi enclosed spaces with batten screening to the exterior to provide ventilation and natural light. When open to the studio spaces the A/C is shut off and circulation assisted by large ceiling fans.