Stella Maris College

The new creative arts facility, Polding Centre, at Stella Maris College in Manly, NSW, represents a significant investment in arts and sciences education for the Northern Beaches community. This four-level, $14 million development designed by JDH Architects houses specialised learning environments including design studios, textile workshops, science laboratories and even a photography darkroom. The project demanded lighting solutions that would inspire student creativity while meeting the diverse functional needs of each trade-specific space.

Client Objectives

Working alongside Kane Constructions and engineers Energywise, Amphis addressed several key requirements:

• Create lighting environments that foster learning and support various artistic disciplines.
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• Deliver custom illumination for unique spaces including multimedia rooms, photography darkroom and science labs.
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• Integrate seamlessly with the building's contemporary design while remaining flexible with shifting needs.
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• Offer energy efficient products that align with budget constraints.

Amphis’s Solution‍

Our team supplied comprehensive lighting tailored to each space's distinct function featuring our Blake 10, Designer 2 and Timbre fittings:

• Specialised lighting for trade-specific rooms that depend on precise illumination such as the science labs.
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• Darkroom-appropriate lighting meeting photographic requirements.
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• Fittings with high colour rendering index (CRI) where detailed creative work will take place and colour accuracy is necessary, such as the visual art and textile workshops.
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• Flexible general learning area illumination that supports collaborative and individual student work.

Implementation

Amphis successfully delivered the complete lighting solution on schedule and within budget through strategic product selection and collaboration with Kane Construction and Energywise. The completed Creative Arts Centre now provides Stella Maris College students with inspiring, well-lit environments that lay the foundation for the next generation of changemakers to thrive.