Kane was awarded the $14M VCA Police Stables Redevelopment in October 2016.
The Stables project involved the restoration of the former Victoria Police mounted branch horse stables to provide new accommodation for The Victorian College of Arts (VCA).
The building provides undergraduate and graduate studio space for wall based practices such as painting and drawing. The building delivers a range of adaptable and flexible installation, exhibition and performance spaces including academic, administration offices and front-of-house spaces. It also integrates the School of Art with the University of Melbourne’s Southbank Campus in particular with Dodds Street and the eastern courtyard.
Critical components of the design included conserving the site’s cultural and built heritage under Heritage Victoria guidance, and incorporating ESD systems and design strategies to meet the University of Melbourne’s campus-wide sustainability targets.
The project scope included:
- Partial restoration of the building to its original condition
- New services installed throughout
- Delivery of a new 260-seat multipurpose performance space, art studios, staff offices, meeting spaces and exhibition spaces
- Refurbishment of the stables, octagon and riding school
- Installation of new external pavements and a new external canopy
- Coordination and installation of the performance space lighting rig, curtain system and technical equipment
This project was delivered in an operational environment and reached Practical Completion in the first quarter of 2018.
In December 2019, the Green Building Council of Australia awarded The Stables redevelopment a 5 Star Green Star - Design & As Built v1.1 Certified Rating, representing Australian excellence in sustainable design and construction. The Stables is the University of Melbourne’s first ever As-Built rated Green Star certified project.