Geelong Arts Centre

Location: Geelong, Australia
Role: Graduate of Architecture
Year: 2017
Area (GFA): 3,374 m2
Cost: $38,000,000
Stages: Town Planning / Design Development
Photographs: Rory Gardner

Project description:

The redevelopment of the Geelong Arts Centre, valued at A$38.5 million, introduces a striking translucent structure that unveils a previously concealed heritage church on the premises. Through the Ryrie Street Redevelopment, the Geelong Arts Centre is positioned as the vibrant, modern nucleus of the region. Enhancements include improved connectivity between the Playhouse Theatre and studios, transforming the Centre into a dynamic cultural epicentre for both the city and its surrounding areas. The innovative design introduces new communal spaces tailored to the thriving arts community, featuring two additional levels of the foyer, a stylish bar area, state-of-the-art rehearsal studios, and a dedicated workspace for arts organisations.

Role description:

Madina joined the team during the town planning phase, which involved restructuring the project scope into two stages. She helped the team prepare the town planning report, showcasing the design vision and historical context regarding the existing church. Despite the church not being listed in the heritage register and its facade obscured by 1950s renovation works, the heritage design objective aimed to unveil the original facade and conduct necessary preservation efforts within the new development which has been documented in the town planning report. Madina further contributed during the design development phase, collaborating closely with project architects and engineers to document the project in Revit. In addition, she actively participated in weekly consultant meetings, in particular facilitating coordination with the access consultant to ensure the building complied with accessibility standards. Madina also liaised with Lamberts Linit suppliers to achieve the desired translucency for the facade and collaborated with the facade engineer and project architect to refine design details.