SAE Institute Perth

The project saw the transformation of a long-vacant building, previously used as an ice cream factory, into a state-of-the-art education facility for creative industries. The fitout expanded SAE’s capacity by approximately 70%, allowing the institute to offer more space for animation, audio, design, film and web & mobile courses. The objective was to deliver specialist teaching and production environments while overcoming the acoustic and spatial limitations of a legacy building. This was achieved through a highly technical interior fitout program which included extensive acoustic treatment and bespoke building solutions.

Purpose-built facilities for media and sound education

A key focus of the fitout was the construction of acoustically sealed spaces within the existing building footprint. This included multiple recording studios, editing suites, control rooms and computer labs. These areas were designed and built to provide full acoustic isolation to meet the demanding requirements of SAE’s sound and film programs. To achieve this, each room was built within the existing building shell without making direct contact with the base structure. This ‘room within a room’ methodology allowed the design team to achieve the required level of acoustic separation between teaching and production areas, while maintaining the integrity of the original building envelope. At the core of the fitout is a cyclorama room – a seamless wall and floor setup used for filming – that adds to the range of technical facilities available on site. Alongside this, new lecture theatres and classrooms were constructed to suit various modes of learning.

Engineering performance into every space

The lecture theatre posed a specific engineering challenge. In order to maintain clear internal volumes and acoustic performance, Swan Group integrated the air conditioning plant directly under the sloping theatre floor. Air was then distributed upward via floor vents, maintaining both functional efficiency and unobtrusive design. Offices, administrative areas and general teaching spaces were also included in the fitout scope. These were delivered to a high-end commercial specification, providing a consistent quality of finish throughout the facility.

Delivering capability and usability to a growing institution

This fitout has significantly increased the Perth campus’s ability to deliver hands-on training in a competitive higher education market. Every room was designed for a specific purpose, aligned with SAE’s course requirements and operational needs. Through considered design and complex construction execution, Swan Group was able to meet the spatial and technical demands of the project. The resulting facility balances functionality with high acoustic performance, providing SAE with a flexible and robust learning environment that supports a wide range of creative disciplines.