Arts Centre Melbourne Renovations Due to Begin

Beloved Arts Centre Melbourne’s Theatres Building is part of the Victorian government’s $1.7 billion transformation of the Melbourne Arts Precinct. The refurbishment works have just begun, highly anticipated for the city’s tourism sector and cultural enthusiasts Victoria-wide.

Originally designed Roy Grounds, the Theatres building homes the State Theatre, Playhouse and Fairfax Studio, which is renowned for the well-known illuminated spire. NH Architecture and Snøhetta have designed the refurbishment of the spaces, adding new scenery lifts, a loading dock, green room, stage door, studio, and function space, as well as a new western entrance and 18,000 square metres of added public parkland.

Described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity by Andrew Myer, Chair of the Arts Centre Melbourne, The State Theatre’s transformation will include dedicated wheelchair positions for the first time in the theatre’s history and 2 DDA-compliant lifts for greater accessibility. There will also be 68 new enhanced amenity seats with wider rows.

The Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation is the largest cultural infrastructure project in Australia and will also include a highly anticipated new contemporary art gallery for the National Gallery of Victoria as well.