Performing Arts Buildings
Lyttelton Primary School
Architect: ASC Architects
This brand new two story primary school on the main street of Lyttelton was the result of a post-earthquake merger of Lyttelton Main and Lyttelton West schools. In just 16 months, the new school, catering for 300 pupils, was designed and built on a small terraced site where the historic Lyttelton Gaol once stood. With significant archaeological heritage constraints and known contamination issues to respond to, the design of the new school supports a flexible approach to learning. The main building includes innovative learning environments over two levels that have been designed to provide multiple educational methods that encourage and foster openness, collaboration and connectivity in all aspects of school life. The open plan learning spaces have been designed to provide connection to exterior learning spaces with outlooks that take advantage of the site’s unique port town setting and historical context
Cashmere High School
Architect: Athfield Architects
Named in honour of Sir Terence McCombs, the school’s first principal and former Minister of Education, the McCombs Performing Arts Centre is the focal point of Cashmere High School’s post-earthquake re-development. Emerging through extensive stakeholder consultation during masterplanning, it became evident that the school had a once in a generation opportunity to create a purpose-built performing arts centre. Through the combined effort of the Ministry of Education and Cashmere High School, this opportunity was turned into reality with a brief for:
- 800-seat auditorium;
- 100-seat theatrette and drama teaching spaces;
- Practice, teaching and rehearsal spaces.
The building has been designed with a focus on learning, however, works hard to ensure that the spectacle of the theatre is not lost. A central foyer space connects to a lantern-like stair, clad in gold anodised sunshades, feeding audience into the auditorium itself. The auditorium was designed in close collaboration with the school to refine the acoustic brief for the space. This has led to a space tuned towards un-amplified and choral music which the school has a particular focus on. Students, staff, management and the school’s Kahui (mana whenua) were closely involved in the development of the building, including in the incorporation of a cultural narrative. Making a notoriously expensive building typology feasible on an efficient budget has taken significant design attention and perseverance. The result is a unique facility that is an illustration of what strong leadership, and a team approach by client, school, design team and contractor can achieve.