Higgins repurposed a former derelict trade school training shed at the Box Hill Institute’s Nelson Campus into a music education and performance centre, including three premium recording studios. This revitalisation significantly enhanced the institute’s capacity for academic achievement and industry collaboration within its network, with the studios available for commercial hire.

The centre hosts a range of diverse facilities: compact to spacious recording studios, sophisticated production suites, and a multifunctional performance area that can accommodate up to 130 attendees. Adding to the ambience is a conveniently situated bar, a student lounge, and well-equipped office spaces dedicated to supporting the faculty.

Integrating the new studios within the existing structure posed technical challenges because of the significant acoustic requirements. To work around these constraints, we built ‘box in box’ acoustic spaces featuring isolated floating concrete slabs, and walls and ceilings composed of three layers of Fyrechek plasterboard. Inside, we fitted the interiors with acoustic wall panels arranged in a distinct alternating stepped pattern, an aesthetic choice that visually captures the rhythmic nature of sound waves.