It’s almost show time for Underdale High School’s new creative arts centre, which boasts art, music and drama areas and a performance space for 150 people.
The creative arts centre is part of the school’s $20 million capital works program, which also includes a refit of the home economics and technology buildings, refurbishment and upgrades to general learning areas andm a new 2 storey administrative building.
With the new construction and upgrades across the site the project is creating 32 construction jobs.
“It’s very exciting to get the first look at the fantastic new creative arts centre which will benefit western suburbs students for generations to come,” Minister for Education John Gardner said.
“Underdale High School’s capital works project is a clear example of what we’re trying to achieve with the record investment in public schools, delivering generation-defining upgrades and boosting the local economy.
“The $20 million upgrade is providing a much-needed jobs boost to the building and construction industries while delivering new contemporary learning facilities.”
BESIX Watpac South Australia Manager Al Crosby expressed the company’s pride in its role in the State’s development.
“We’re excited to be delivering a valuable and high-quality educational asset for the State, while supporting jobs and skills development.”
“Importantly our expertise in live operational environments has enabled the school to remain safely open throughout construction. While this is important for delivering on time and on budget, it also means we’ve been able to offer fantastic work experience opportunities on the project for more than a dozen Underdale High school students.” Mr Crosby said.
John Held of Russell & Yelland Architects said: “It’s been a privilege to work with the school on this project to design these new and upgraded facilities including new central courtyards.
“The Creative Arts building includes a flexible performance space with state of the art digital sound and lighting facilities for music and drama as well as visual arts facilities opening to sheltered external work areas. The views across the ovals to the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri are celebrated in a brick mural on the wall of the centre.”
The Underdale High School upgrades are part of the Marshall Government’s record $1.3 billion investment in capital infrastructure for public schools.
Capital works at more than a hundred sites, including four new schools, are creating thousands of jobs over the life of the program, providing a significant boost to the state’s economy as well as leaving a lasting legacy of improved education facilities for generations to come.
“The capital works projects are delivering world class learning facilities to suburbs and towns right across metropolitan Adelaide and the regions. They are also creating a much-needed economic stimulus to help us to weather COVID-19,” Minister Gardner said.
