Knox Grammar School Great Hall and Aquatic Centre redefines the idea of a school assembly hall, fusing ceremony, sport and civic presence into a single, confident architectural gesture. Anchoring the Wahroonga campus, the building balances daily athletic use with moments of grandeur, accommodating everything from basketball training to whole‑school gatherings beneath one expansive roof.

A ceremonial entry sequence, marked by a generous foyer and processional stair, establishes a sense of arrival and public occasion, while the hall itself which spans multiple courts and seating up to 2,500 people, maintains a robust clarity suited to intensive use. Beneath, the aquatic centre seamlessly integrates competition and learn‑to‑swim pools, stacking program vertically to maximise site efficiency.

Grounded in Knox Grammar’s heritage yet unapologetically contemporary, the project demonstrates how large-scale educational infrastructure can be both functional and symbolic, and is an enduring social heart for the school community.

Product

Eco-Cert Hoop Pine FSC, Crown Cut, Bookmatched

Architect

Jones Sonter Architects

Project

Knox Grammar School – The Great Hall

Photography

Simon Wood

Building

Decor Systems