1 hero main entrance at dusk of knox performing arts centre taylor construction education

This multilevel facility now accommodates a four level Junior Academy and Performing Arts Centre for Knox Grammar School in Wahroonga, providing students with spaces to learn, practice and showcase their creative talents in music, drama, dance and audio visual.

The building comprises music and drama classrooms and multi-purpose spaces, a 700 seat tiered lyric theatre, a 165 seat minor performance space, state of the art music, dance and drama teaching rooms. In addition to this is a new secure basement car park with 116 spaces and a link footbridge connecting the new centre and the wider campus.

Division
New Build

Client
Knox Grammar School,
Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW)

Location
Wahroonga, NSW

Value
$47 million

Status
Completed April 2019

5 street view junior academy and performing arts centre at knox performing arts centre taylor construction education
6 view to main entrance of the junior academy and performing arts centre at knox performing arts centre taylor construction education
3 main foyer and entrance at knox performing arts centre taylor construction education
4 view to stage of 750 seat tiered lyric theatre and multipurpose auditorium at knox performing arts centre taylor construction education

Taylor worked closely with numerous subcontractors on a value engineering exercise to achieve financial advantage for the client with a focus on the shoring and audiovisual disciplines. As a result, achieving significant cost savings in these two areas alone of approximately $1.6 million.

Important project considerations included tight access restrictions, significant student interface and the location which was next to an active city rail line. Despite this, the team managed several 400m³+ concrete pours and worked tirelessly on stakeholder management to maintain communication lines with not only the school but all stakeholders in the area.

7 bridge linking existing school to new facility at knox performing arts centre taylor construction education
14 view from the stage of grand piano in lyric theatre and multipurpose auditorium at knox performing arts centre taylor construction education
1 lift and stairs knox grammar school performing arts centre taylor construction education
2 foyer knox grammar school performing arts centre taylor construction education