The Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation
Victorian
The St George’s Performing Arts Centre is the result of the adaptive reuse of the heritage listed St George’s Uniting Church located on the campus of St Michael’s Grammar School, St Kilda.
Through a series of sensitive insertions and interventions the chief of these being a multifunctional brass ‘ingot’ cast in the nave that houses tiered seating, building services, and amenities Kneeler Design Architects has revitalized the building while preserving the dramatic proportions and rich detailing of the heritage fabric.
The integration of cutting-edge audiovisual technologies overcomes the building’s inherent acoustic and scenographic limitations while giving students unique opportunities to reimagine performing arts in an unconventional theatre environment.
The built outcome remains a recognisably ecclesiastical space that provides an immersive theatrical atmosphere for audience and performers alike, honouring the building’s past while equipping it to help shape present and future generations of performing arts talent.
It is a testament to the architects’ clarity of vision and their thoughtful, consultative design process that the result so closely aligned with the initial concepts and delivered on the key requirements in the brief, including the provision of seating for up to 400 spectators and ensuring the centrality of the historic organ within the redevelopment.
The tasteful incorporation of modern fittings and technology has been widely acclaimed, and the powerful blend of old and new has drawn new eyes to the latent beauty of the building itself while respecting and enhancing its heritage.
Robert Bienvenu, Design Architect
Eldo di Muccio, Senior Design Associate
Allison Jessup, Interior Designer
Dominic On, Graduate of Architecture
Maria Torres Lopez, Graduate of Architecture
Australian Pipe Organs, Organ Conservator
Bryce Raworth Conservation & Heritage, Heritage Consultant
Fabmetal Specialist, Brass Panel Fabricator
Lucid Consulting Australia, Services Consultant
Marshall Day Acoustics, Acoustic Consultant
Philip Chun Building Compliance, Building Surveyor
Robert Rusev Stained Glass, Leaded Glass Conservator
Studio Entertech, Theatre Consultant
Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec, Structural Engineer and Civil Consultant
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
