PTW architects: sydney grammar school assembly hall
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PTW architects: sydney grammar school assembly hall


'sydney grammar school assembly hall' by PTW, sydney, australia
all images courtesy PTW
image © brian steele architectural photography


australian firm PTW architects has completed the 'sydney grammar school assembly hall', a subterranean recital hall capable of
seating 1500 people in sydney, australia. placed within the heart of a school complex, the venue hosts concerts and assemblies
as well as facilitating interior and exterior circulation. the natural bedrock was carved to form the internal walls which become
the auditorium's focal element. the space provides functional amenities with acoustical benefits for a variety of musical performances,
and ideal sight lines from the seating arrangement which wraps the perimeter. generated high reverberation time is conducive to large
scale 19th and 20th century orchestras and speech audibility is ideal for assemblies. the facility is capable of high quality
video recording and projection.

the constrained site led to a top down construction method, excavating below the existing playground spaces without interfering
with the children's daily activities. a large flat area was maintained at the lowest level of the stepped seating to support examinations
and a regulation sized basketball court.



recital hall
image © brian steele architectural photography



stage
image © brian steele architectural photography



aerial view
image © brian steele architectural photography



excavation and construction



rendering



site plan



floor plan / level 0



section



construction sketch


project info:

practice team:
design director: andrew andersons
design associate: troy uleman
project architect: sara best

consultant team:
landscape architect: context
specialist lighting: steensen varming
cost planner / quantity surveyor: wt partnership
structural engineer: taylor thompson whitting
mechanical engineer: steensen varming
electrical & data engineer: steensen varming
lift services: steensen varming
fire services: gdk hydraulics
hydraulics consultant: gdk hydraulics
fire safety engineering: grubits associates
acoustics consultant: acoustic studio
theatre consultant: rtmi international
access consultant: morris goding accessibility consulting
bca consultant: steve watson and partners
construction consultant: baseline constructions
heritage: nbrs & partners
archaeology: cultural resources management
geotechnical: douglas partners

construction team:
construction manager: southern cross projects
project manager: morgan moore and associates

lauren db
01.13.12  
3
I don't usually comment on something if i don't like it following the 'if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all' approach but... this seems like a missed opportunity.

The best thing about this project is the existing sandstone wall, the palette of materials especially the timber is terrible (dare I say PoMo) and the structural beams are really inelegant. I think the pencil drawing labelled rendering shows that PTW or at least the team who worked on this are stuck in the 1980's.

Sorry that's how i feel and i wanted to say it somewhere.
Simon   01.16.12
@Simon you should probably stick to your mantra, it shows a human quality to the employees to have rendered with watercolor. More firms should revert back to a classic rendering style instead of creating space age drawings.

This project is clearly an exercise in using what is already given by nature instead of being heavy handed and wiping the "slate" clean.....pun intended.
Sorry Simon   01.16.12
You're probably right about sticking to my mantra, and i totally agree with your point about renders vs drawings, i just don't think this one is very good.

I always think it's a sign that architects haven't achieved what they wanted with a project when, they present some perspectives/renders once the project is finished.
Simon   01.17.12

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