$15m upgrade for Thomas More College set to accommodate rapid student growth

A popular Adelaide private school is set to build a new $15m gymnasium and performing arts centre after seeing an almost 50 per cent increase in student enrolments since 2018.

Initial artist's impression of the performing arts entrance of the development at Thomas More College. Picture: Supplied.

A private school in Adelaide’s northern suburbs is set to expand with a $15m development to cater for a boom in enrolments.

Thomas More College in Salisbury Downs is set to build a new gymnasium and performing arts centre after the school saw almost 50 per cent growth in student numbers since 2018.

The school, which has about 1100 student enrolments in 2024, expects it will continue to grow until numbers are capped at approximately 1350 in 2028.

Thomas More College principal Corey Tavella. Picture: Supplied.

Thomas More College principal Corey Tavella said the expansion would allow the school to be more “connected”.

“With the rapid growth in students at Thomas More College, we have not been able to gather as an entire school community,” Mr Tavella said.

“Being connected is core to our being at Thomas More.”

Mr Tavella said the college had not gathered as a whole school since before Covid.

“While we have found new ways to connect during the last five years, this facility will provide us with a true chance to be in community with each other for key events,” he said.

“This development will have a tremendous impact on our college and we can’t wait to get started.”

Initial artist's impression of the gymnasium entrance of the development at Thomas More College. Picture: Supplied.

An aerial view of the initial designs for the development at Thomas More College. Picture: Supplied.

The new gymnasium, part of the same building as the performing arts centre, will include a double basketball court, teaching spaces and retractable seating.

And the new performing arts area will come with a performance space with a large stage area, accommodating more than 250 seats, classroom spaces and studios, specialist music tutorial facilities and catering space.

The expansion comes after Thomas More recently purchased additional land at Venlo Court next to the school.

The project forms Stage 3 of the school’s masterplan and is half self-funded with an approximately $7m loan filling the shortfall.

A final design for the development is expected by the end of this year and construction on the project is set to begin in April 2025 with the centre expected to open mid to late 2026.