Flinders excited by Performance Centre opportunities

(posted 27.05.11)

Matthew Flinders Anglican College is looking forward to the opening later this year of its 600-seat auditorium, The Performance Centre.

The Performance Centre is an extension of the College’s existing Drama and Music facilities, centrally located and linking both the Primary and Secondary schools. 

This world-class facility will provide students with state-of-the-art facilities and has been designed to extend the choices of teaching methods at Flinders.

The centre features tiered auditorium seating for 600 with a capacity to seat up to 1000, gallery and exhibition space, and dance studio.

The auditorium includes a large sprung floor stage and is equipped with high quality sound and lighting, orchestra pit, control room, media editing room, Green Room and dressing rooms. All auditorium seats are retractable and can be telescoped to the back wall with the touch of a button.

The orchestra pit platform can be lowered to seat the orchestra below floor level, brought level with the floor, or even raised above floor level with patrons enjoying a performance “in the round”.

A unique feature of the building is that the stage is at the same level as the main floor. The stage’s “raised” look is achieved by sinking the orchestra platform, which is almost the entire area in front of the stage, down about one metre, and extracting three rows of tiered seating in this area. When the platform is at floor level, the auditorium is one large space and will be used for such things as exams, dinners, dances and creative art displays.

The dance studio features a sprung floor identical to the auditorium stage, and has separate access and toilet facilities. The building includes music teaching rooms and sound-proof practice rooms, indoor and outdoor seating for break-out sessions, tuition rooms and versatile learning spaces for students. 

The Performance Centre also features function and event facilities, commercial kitchen, café and tuckshop, and a central Flinders Shop including uniform shop and bookshop.

Consistent rain over many months has slowed the progress of the building program, however, work has continued steadily and the expected completion date of The Performance Centre is July/August.

Tilt panels have created the main shell of the auditorium and these concrete walls have been covered in a mixture of finishes ranging from Alucabond, a striking highlight, to brickwork in keeping with the College’s existing buildings.

A massive rainwater tank has been constructed underground to meet water-saving goals and feeds all toilets in the building.

Principal Anthony Vincent said the whole school community was looking forward to the opening of The Performance Centre later this year.

“The building of the Performance Centre is one of those significant events in the history of an educational institution,” Mr Vincent said.

“It speaks of the maturity of a College and the confidence it holds in its established traditions.

“It not only speaks of the reputation it has built, but it proclaims the accomplishments it foresees in the future. It is a statement of optimism, energy, excitement and faith in our future.”

Mr Vincent said the Performance Centre was a resource which would open further doorways to Flinders students.

“It enriches our educational offerings, both for this generation of students and for those in decades to come,” he said.

“It will extend the choices of teaching opportunities at Flinders by enabling class, year group and whole College participation in one venue.

“The Performance Centre is our proudest contributor to our ongoing vision of excellence at Flinders.”

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