The north-facing Performing Arts Centre (PAC) at Christchurch Girls’ High School nestles into exquisite park-like surroundings overlooking the Avon River. The complex houses music rooms, photography, drama and dance studios, and two levels of flexible teaching spaces, which wrap around a double-height 275-seat theatre, designed for both the school and wider community’s enjoyment. The exterior is wrapped in timber and insulated precast concrete panels and replaces the old auditorium building which was significantly damaged during the Canterbury earthquakes.

Jasmax developed a comprehensive masterplan for the school that included strengthening and refurbishment to existing buildings and improved campus planning to capitalise on the site’s unique riverside location. Landscape works included a new entrance forecourt and cascading terraces, which form a gathering space spilling out onto the riverside. These have since become the busiest spaces on campus.