Guided by the College’s motto “Giving hearts and minds the place to grow”, the expansion of Chevalier College has created two inspiring spaces that nurture creativity, wellbeing and connection. The John Fahey Education and Sport Centre and refurbished Performing Arts Centre provides students with modern, high-quality facilities that support the College’s holistic approach to education, where academic, cultural and sporting pursuits are equally valued.

Construction was carried out in a live environment and required detailed planning to maintain safety and minimise disruption. Early risk identification proved critical when latent structural conditions were discovered in the existing Performing Arts Centre. Collaboration was key between consultants, suppliers and the Client to develop several engineered solutions that ensured the new theatre seating could be supported without impacting time or budget. Value management initiatives were also introduced to achieve design intent while delivering measurable savings.

Key design features aimed to combine function, beauty and sustainability. The Sports Hub focused on natural light, cross-ventilation and strong visual connections to surrounding playing fields, while sustainable elements such as passive heating and cooling, solar shading, high performance insulation and water harvesting were included in the build. These design features also align with the College’s environmental ethos. Specialist internal finishes included Supawood Maxi Beam ceilings for fire safety and acoustic performance, and a European timber sports floor installed on springing pads.