Feasibility Study

Kingston Arts Precinct - Feasibility Study

Following on from the Kingston Arts Precinct Strategy by consultant Susan Conroy, undertaking a feasibility study to expand this visual arts hub was the next step in achieving the vision for the precinct. 

The 2013-14 ACT Budget provided $300,000 to progress the development of the Kingston Arts Precinct, home to the Canberra Glassworks, Old Bus Depot Markets and a new temporary location for Megalo Print Studio and Gallery. This funding allowed the Government to progress planning of the precinct, with a view to accommodating many of Canberra’s leading visual arts organisations, and transform the precinct into a hive of creativity and activity. Existing work has been incorporated into this process, including previous consultation, to develop a facility that becomes a tourist destination.

Stewart Architects were engaged, along with a specialist consultant team (including Susan Conroy Cultural Planner, SGS Economics and Planning, Colliers International, Positive Solutions, David Flannery and Turner and Townsend) to undertake the feasibility study. This study built on the work of the Kingston Section 49 Master Plan which was released on 21 May 2014 and is available on the Land Development Agency website External Link

The feasibility study investigated maximising the site for arts and cultural activity. The consultants were asked to investigate appropriate location of arts activity to maximise exposure and logically locate functions. The new building or buildings need to be iconic but adaptable to future needs. There would need to be some communal 'Arts Precinct' space for functions such as galleries, receiving stores and workshop spaces, meetings rooms, individual and group workshop spaces, a retail shop as well as accommodation for visiting artists.

The key deliverables of the feasibility study were:

Kingston Arts Precinct

Kingston Arts Precinct Report for Feasibility, Management Models and Design Options

The Minister for the Arts released Stewart Architecture's Report for Feasibility, Management Models and Design Options on 20 June 2015.

You can download the full PDF document here:

You can also download the report and attachments separately here:

Executive Summary

Stewart Architecture was engaged by artsACT, Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (CMTEDD) to undertake a study and prepare a report investigating and documenting planning options, management options and feasibility for a new arts precinct on Section 49 Kingston.

This report explores the requirements and options for accommodating a range of identified arts organisations on Section 49 Kingston, which would be developed into a mixed use arts precinct, and follows on from the work and ideas presented in the May 2014 Section 49 Master Plan.

Main Areas of the Study

Stewart Architecture, with the assistance of an expert sub-consultant team, was identified as the ‘Project Team’ and tasked to undertake the following studies and provide recommendations for the way forward:

Key Findings of the Study

The Project Team presents the following recommendations arising from this report:

1. Functional Brief

The Functional Brief recommends that the identified arts organisations will require about 7,571sqm of floor area in office, exhibition, retail, workshop, training, meeting circulation and servicing type spaces. These spaces could be located in one or more buildings, arranged close together to ensure strong working synergies between the different arts organisations can develop.

2. Parking

The precinct needs to replace the 480 public parks that currently exist, plus provide the parking generated by new development and parking generated by the arts organisations, for operators, artists and visitors.

The parking generation for the arts organisations has been based on the Parking and Vehicular Access Guidelines Code and it is estimated that 7,571sqm of arts use will generate about 152 employee parking spaces.

This report recommends public parking be located in either 1 or 2 centrally located basements running through the middle of the site, directly underneath new arts buildings. The report calculates that up to 760 new public car parks could be provided on site in both below ground or surface parking arrangements.

3. Consultation

One-on-one consultation with the various arts organisations concludes that there is strong support for the development of an arts precinct at the Kingston Foreshore. In addition to this, there are a range of other organisations (both government and private) that have expressed an interest in being located at an arts precinct and thus indicates that a mixed use ‘arts focussed’ precinct at the Kingston Foreshore would have considerable support.

4. Statutory Planning

The current CZ5 Commercial Zones Development Code and Kingston Precinct Code indicates that a mixed use arts precinct would be suitable for the site and that the majority of proposed uses would be permissible.

It is the opinion of the project team that the precinct should be considered a ‘special place,’ unique to other parts of the Kingston Foreshore. There should be a variation to the Territory Plan to increase the flexibility of permissible uses, floor area restrictions and height restrictions to ensure that the intention of an arts precinct as described in this report be realised.

5. Design Options

The report has been prepared based on a review of the May 2014 Section 49 Master Plan. This report highlights the importance of locating arts organisations in the centre of the precinct, with the focal point of the precinct being a public quadrangle and colonnade.

This preferred arrangement is identified as Design Option 1 in this report.

This arrangement can provide up to 9,120sqm of public and arts use space, and potentially up to 53,413sqm of mixed use (commercial and residential) and a large amount of quality public outdoor space.

6. Management Model

The project team recommends that a new, independent entity be established to realise the Precinct Vision. It is recommended that this entity be placed at arms-length from Government at as early a stage as practical after the process of establishment. The selection of initial board members should be recommended by artsACT, and approved by the Minister for the Arts, with consideration of the range of cultural, marketing, property management and other skills which will be appropriate to the operating entity.

Refer to Section 8 of this report for the Final Recommendations of the Study.

Conclusion

Stewart Architecture believes it has identified an exciting opportunity to re-brand an existing precinct into a world class cultural, mixed used precinct which would show case the best of local art and art making as its focal point. The precinct will combine new architecture with heritage buildings and quality public spaces building on the strong connections that already existing between the local Canberra community and the history of this important precinct.

Stewart Architecture recommends that this vision be realised, firstly through the formation of an Estate Development Plan, based on the preferred Design Option presented in this report. This would identify future development sites, and confirm the sites that should be reserved for future arts uses. In addition to this, variation to the Territory Plan should be sought to remove some of the restrictions that currently exist on this precinct, to provide greater flexibility of use, and to ensure that this precinct can be identified as a ‘special place;’ the future heart to the Kingston Foreshore.

Stewart Architecture recommends that the development of a public quadrangle and colonnade that will link new arts buildings and heritage buildings is pivotal in claiming this precinct as a dedicated home to the best of local arts and crafts. In addition to this, the development of a central below ground public car park will unlock future sites for development, providing safe and accessible parking without compromising the existing uses of the precinct.

It should be noted that without the work prepared, and the issues examined, in the May 2014 Section 49 Master Plan, these recommendations and conclusions would not be possible. We thank all those involved in the preparation of the May 2014 Section 49 Master Plan and we look forward to working with the ACT Government to realise this landmark project.

For more information, please contact artsACT on 02 6207 2384 or email artsACT@act.gov.au

Kingston Arts Precinct Artist Impression

Image: Kingston Arts Precinct - artist's impression