Arts & Culture Common

Prime Constructions delivered the O’Regan Arts and Cultural Common at Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College, a landmark five-level facility that sets a new benchmark for contemporary arts education. Completed in 2015, the $12.8 million project was designed by Brewster Hjorth Architects and constructed within a highly constrained, heritage-sensitive site while the school remained fully operational.

The building houses a 320-seat professional-standard theatre, large and small performance spaces, learning studios, tutorial rooms, exhibition areas, and a recording studio for the music and drama faculty. To minimise visual impact on surrounding heritage buildings, approximately two-thirds of the structure is located below ground, requiring an 8-metre-deep excavation into sandstone. The works also involved underpinning the adjacent heritage-listed O’Regan Building and continuous monitoring of the nearby chapel. With no space for on-site storage, Prime Constructions implemented just-in-time material deliveries alongside strict noise, traffic, and safety controls. Landscaped rooftop and terrace spaces further enhance campus connectivity and outdoor learning opportunities.

The project has received multiple industry accolades, including recognition from The Association for Learning Environments for New Construction, Major Facility, acknowledging its design excellence and complex delivery.