The Lakes College community celebrated the official opening of its $7.8 million Multi-Purpose Hall on Thursday 20 October. The official opening was not only an occasion to celebrate the new building but also reflect on the vision and determination to make it happen, and how far the College has come since it opened in 2005.
“Our story is 18 years old this year and to have such a magnificent facility where we can meet as a whole community, have additional teaching spaces, share in celebrations and events and of course participate in sport. These are spaces for our growing community and this building feels a little like we’ve come of age.” Principal, Nicole Gregory said.
The new facility completes Stage One of the College’s Multi-Purpose Hall, which will support its Sport and Performing Arts programs and also provide a contemporary indoor space for the whole College to come together. The facility will be shared with the Moreton Bay Region’s sporting community as they will have the opportunity to partner with the College through external venue hire.
The impressive new build has four convertible indoor courts that are equipped for basketball (two courts that include a show court plus three score boards), badminton (four courts), volleyball (two courts), netball, futsal and other sporting opportunities. It also has three classrooms, with one of these being a dedicated strength and conditioning room, a large office and staffroom, change rooms and toilets designed to cater for both school and community use and an additional car park.
Former Board Chair of the College, Gary Adsett, said it was exciting to enter the building and hear the “wonderful energy of student voices” and to realise the venue was already “coming alive”.
Mr Adsett thanked the Uniting Church and the State Government for supporting the vision and investing in the building. “It’s now time to look forward and see what this place can do in the fabric of what is The Lakes College,” he said.