Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium

Public | Renovation

Stage 1 2010 Stage 2 2018

The Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium represents one of g2’s longest staged projects as well as one of our more enduring community involvements. Situated in the Bray St complex the Conservatorium serves as a hub for musical instruction, musical performance and musical excellence.

Originally founded in the 1980’s the Conservatorium operated out of a variety of venues until 2009 when a generous donation from local patron Barbara Hogbin allowed for the purchase and construction of the Bray Street site. g2’s Principal Architect Ann Gee worked in conjunction with local builder Rick Wilson to substantially renovate the existing disused nightclub into twelve acoustically designed rehearsal/teaching studios, a foyer, kitchen facilities, music library, bathrooms and administration offices. This initial renovation stage posed significant architectural design challenges. A new roof was constructed to address substantial water penetration issues. A requirement that each of the twelve studios be acoustically discreet combined with the challenge of an existing slab that could not bear load, saw Ann pioneer a bespoke design solution. Studio walls were timber framed to reduce weight and designed as a “box within a box” formation. An air gap between each ‘volume’ combined with sound-out doors achieved acoustic separation, while double glazing on the doors allowed external light into these internal studio pods. Interiors were transformed with brightly coloured feature walls and energy saving lighting selected by Nicolle Foster of Natural Habitat. The result is an acoustically sound building which utilises all available space and comfortably connects the facility with a secure car park downstairs for staff use.

2018 saw the completion of the Second Stage of the Conservatorium’s refurbishment with the addition of the 158 seat Performance Space. The triumph of this architectural conversion lies in g2’s selective use of cost-effective, targeted and minimal, design interventions to transform the disused nightclub dancefloor into an institutional facility with all the elegance and amenity of a custom built performance space. The unrenovated building form featured an elongated curved glass-brick wall and a non-uniform double height dance space with bio box. This layout posed significant acoustic and segmentation challenges. Principal architect Ann Gee worked in conjunction with local builder Pauly Baldwin from Baldwin Building Group to revolutionise the building form. Ann utilised substantial heavy curtains to insulate the stage and frame the performance space. Tiered seating in the double height void not only provided accommodation for an audience but also serves as a link to the existing bio box, with the negative space enclosed below the tiered floor concealing extra rehearsal space and an additional storage area. Clever interior paint and lighting selections coupled with a lustrous timber-floored stage, and the sweeping elegance of bespoke acoustic curtains accentuate the institutional elegance of the Conservatoriums new Performance Space.

Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium represents a triumph of creativity, ingenuity and excellence. The g2 team, and Ann Gee as a long serving board member, are proud to be involved in the legacy of this community institution and are excited to behold its ongoing evolution and development.