About the project
Property and Development NSW led the transformation of the former Roads and Maritime Services building at 1 Simmons Street, Wagga Wagga into a state-of-the-art home for the Riverina Conservatorium of Music (RCM).
The RCM provides much-needed music education services for the Riverina region.
The ambitious vision to repurpose an unused, 1980s, two-storey government administration building into a bespoke, fit-for-purpose music education facility required an innovative planning and design approach, including:
- Achieving planning approval for the building’s change in use from public administration to an educational establishment.
- Ensuring the building’s new additions were sympathetic and considerate of the site’s location in a heritage conservation area.
- Delivering well-designed, high-quality teaching, administration and performance spaces, including a dedicated percussion studio, 20 acoustically treated individual studios and two large rehearsal spaces.
- Replacing and heightening a large portion of the existing roof, effectively doubling the volume of the space, to create world-class acoustics for the rehearsal and performance spaces.
- Installing a 78.3kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system which will generate approximately 109MWh of solar energy per annum, equating to 89 tonnes of avoided C02 emissions per year. The installation of a solar system contributes to the NSW Government Resource Efficiency Policy’s whole-of-government solar target (GREP E5) and ensures the conservatorium’s ongoing operating costs are reduced.
The successful delivery of this $12 million project will allow for an increased number of children and young professionals to be engaged in high-quality musical education, particularly in isolated and disadvantaged regional communities.
The RCM moved into its new premises in February 2023.
Background
The project was initiated after the site of the RCM’s former facility was sold and the government sought to provide new premises for its relocation.
The refurbishment design was completed in consultation with RCM and, in 2020, Wagga Wagga City Council approved the change in use for an educational facility and the refurbishment plans.
Early works for the internal strip out of the existing building were completed in preparation for the main refurbishment works.
The construction contract was awarded in August 2021 which included a commitment to use trades and suppliers from the Wagga Wagga region.
Construction was completed in February 2023.
