Design Concepts Unveiled For New Theatre At QPAC

Audiences had their first glimpse of what the new theatre at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) will look like, after the successful Principal Consultant and concept design was unveiled on 15 May.

Photo credit: Blight Rayner + Snøhetta

The Blight Rayner + Snøhetta design will deliver a minimum 1,500 seat theatre to meet existing audience and producer demand and support continued growth of performing arts in Queensland. Features include two studio spaces below street level, transparent foyer spaces and a single balcony auditorium.

Photo credit: Blight Rayner + Snøhetta

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas highlighted the project as a rare opportunity to reimagine the future. “At QPAC, we have big and bold ambitions. The new performing arts venue, and this design, are integral to us achieving them,” said Mr Kotzas. “It was of most importance to QPAC that the selected design envisioned a state-of-the-art venue, one that was welcoming, accessible and connected, and a theatre with the technical capacity to better share live performance experiences across Queensland. It was a place that grows with the aspirations of QPAC, the expectations of audiences and visitors, and the creative ambitions of performing artists and practitioners well into the future.”

Photo credit: Blight Rayner + Snøhetta

In the coming months, the design team will progress the concept design for the A$150 million project, with A$125 million contributed by the Queensland Government. The new theatre offers the potential to host an additional 300,000 visitors each year when fully operational.

Expressions of interest for the new theatre project commenced in November 2018, with early works expected to commence in 2020, with completion in late 2022.

Click here to visit Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s website.