Hale Memorial Hall and Stow Precinct | KHA

Hale School Memorial Hall, built in the early 1960s, was the first example of Brutalist Architecture in Australia. Designed by Tony Brand and built in Beton Brut, Memorial Hall represented a confidence in an emerging Australian modernism, featuring innovative concrete engineering by legendary Perth structural engineer Peter Bruchel. The building was funded by past students, and commemorated the war time service of its Alma Mater.
A striking modernist bas relief frescos representing the craters of the battlefield adorn the solid balustrade.

No longer fit for purpose and unable to accommodate the entire school assembly as intended, the building was under threat of possible demolition to make way for a larger structure. Architects KHA instead proposed a stunningly simple expansion of the original hall by incorporating existing external walkways running along the long sides of the building, converting these into seating galleries, and adding an additional 400 seats. Other significant modifications include a reworked entry, new acoustic ceilings, and a new stage with fly tower and an upgraded back of house.

The new works have been constructed in a white brick that matches the colour or the existing painted concrete, while providing a textural indication of the old and new.

The cleverness of the adaptive reuse of this building is the enormous increase in utility afforded by relatively minor works. In doing so, the Memorial Hall has been given a new lease life that sees the retention of an incredibly important early Australian modernist work.