WA PREMIER Roger Cook got his first taste of John Curtin College of the Arts’ new $27 million specialist music building Mia Moorna on Friday.

A jovial premier joked with students about his own high school experiences during the tour before sitting in with one of the College’s new podcast teams to answer some questions.

Mia Moorna, which translates from Noongar as House of Sound, features new orchestral spaces with sweeping views over Fremantle and its port, specialised practice rooms and film, audio and recording studios.

• Premier Roger Cook and Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk field questions from John Curtin’s podcast team during a tour of the new Mia Moorna building. Photos by Steve Grant

The building has flexible teaching spaces, cutting-edge technology and collaborative zones to cater for the modern students’ approach to learning, including a new “STEM makerspace” and design labs.

While waiting for Mr Cook to arrive, a few staff raved to the Chook about Mia Moorna’s architecture, praising TRCB Architects’ use of “negative spaces” to give a sense of space and frame the surrounding views.

The building was officially opened late last year where Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk praised John Curtin as one of WA’s premium arts and academic secondary schools.

“These $27 million new facilities are world-class and will give students excellent opportunities to learn and thrive in their musical and scientific endeavours,” Ms McGurk said.