Burnside State High School Performing Arts Centre
The Burnside State School Performing Arts Centre is a thoughtfully designed facility that responds to growing student numbers and evolving educational needs. Delivered in line with the client’s brief and budget, the centre provides a contemporary, inclusive environment that supports learning, creativity and community engagement.
At the heart of the building is a flexible performance hall at ground level. Designed for adaptability, the hall can be divided into four dance and drama studios using large operable, acoustically treated walls. Retractable seating allows the space to transition seamlessly between performances, large gatherings and specialist activities, ensuring maximum versatility for the school and wider community.
Earthy, nature-inspired colours and materials anchor the building within its landscape and heritage context. Sited on a steep embankment, the design incorporates carefully considered retaining walls, vibrant landscaped undercroft spaces that extend from the foyer, and a covered stairway that provides a clear, sheltered connection to the main school campus
In the auditorium, Vogl perforated plasterboard was specified for its non-combustible properties and seamless finish, creating a continuous aesthetic across the large volume while effectively controlling reverberation, with an NRC of 0.85. This balance of performance and visual clarity supports both speech and music, enhancing the overall acoustic experience.
The main foyer features Country Currents, finished in SmartLook Blackbutt timber, an artwork by Rachael Sarra from the Contours of Country collection. We spoke with Rachael about the project and the significance of seeing her artwork translated onto natural materials such as timber. The result is a powerful and meaningful piece that connects culture, place and storytelling within an inspiring space for the next generation.
What sparked the concept behind the design featured in the Contours of Country range?
The concepts behind Turtle Season and Country Currents came from thinking deeply about movement, memory and return. How Country holds us, and how we always know where home is, even when we travel far from it. I was inspired by the migration patterns of turtles, who journey vast distances through ocean currents yet always return home to give birth. For me, this mirrors cultural knowledge - it’s carried, remembered and instinctive. No matter how disrupted or distant, there is an innate pull back to Country, culture and safety. These designs translate that idea into flowing forms that speak to continuity, resilience and belonging.
How did it feel to see your work come to life in this setting?
Seeing these works come to life within architectural spaces was incredibly powerful. Art often lives on walls or in galleries, but to see cultural stories embedded into environments where people learn, gather and grow feels deeply meaningful. Knowing that Turtle Season and Country Currents exist in shared spaces, particularly those used by young people. It feels like a quiet but constant affirmation that culture belongs everywhere. It’s a reminder that these stories aren’t static; they live, move and continue, just like the currents themselves.
In your view, how can art and design contribute to creating culturally safe and inspiring spaces for young people?
Art and design play a vital role in shaping how people feel in a space. When cultural narratives are thoughtfully embedded, they create an atmosphere of recognition and respect. For young people, especially First Nations youth, seeing culture reflected around them can be grounding and affirming. It reinforces that they are seen, valued and connected to something bigger than the space they’re in. For non-Indigenous young people, it opens opportunities for understanding, curiosity and respect. Culturally informed design can transform a space from somewhere you pass through into somewhere you feel safe to be yourself.
Are there any stories or meanings within your design that you’d like us to share as part of the project feature?
Yes — both Turtle Season and Country Currents speak to the idea of returning home. Turtles navigate vast oceans, guided by instinct and knowledge passed down through generations, always finding their way back to the place where life begins. This became a metaphor for cultural safety, how culture holds knowledge, direction and reassurance, even through displacement or change. The flowing lines and layered forms represent ocean currents, pathways and movement, reminding us that while journeys may be long, connection to Country and culture is enduring and always there to return to.
The Burnside State School Performing Arts Centre demonstrates how considered design, technical performance and cultural storytelling can come together to create spaces of lasting value.
Through adaptable learning environments, high-performing acoustic solutions and the meaningful integration of First Nations artwork, the centre supports creativity, connection and belonging. It stands as a welcoming, future-focused facility that not only meets the practical needs of the school, but also enriches the daily experiences of students, staff and the wider community.
Similar Projects
Our recent collaboration on the Stage 3 development of Hymba Yumba Independent School is a powerful example of how architecture, art, and acoustics can come together to create something truly meaningful. Working alongside Deicke Richards, we were honoured to contribute to a project that places Indigenous culture and student wellbeing at its heart. As leaders in acoustic solutions for sports halls, our role was to ensure this high-impact environment was not only visually inspiring but also acoustically sound, supporting both movement and learning in equal measure. Central to the project was the integration of Seeds, an artwork by proud Larrakia, Wardaman, and Karajarri woman, Jenna Lee. This piece forms part of our Contours of Country range—an initiative created in collaboration with Blaklash, a leading First Nations creative consultancy, to embed Indigenous storytelling into architectural surfaces.
