The West Gippsland Arts Centre redevelopment has renewed the fine 1980s sculptural building with expanded foyer areas, functional and infrastructure improvements and a substantial new civic forecourt.
The project has increased the theatre capacity to 750 seats by installing balcony seating, upgraded theatrical infrastructure and internal finishes, and greatly improved accessibility. A new landscaped forecourt provides a significant public space for an important regional facility.
Demolition of a disused building enabled the foyer facade to be made transparent to the new forecourt, improving address and entry opportunities. The new café and bar embrace the edge of the forecourt, providing much needed social space to animate the centre during the day.
A new three storey foyer with stair provides access to the theatre upper entries, celebrating audience movement with views of the delightful parkland. Additions are expressed as formal, crisp, neutral boxes, contrasting the original sweeping sculptural and monolithic brick theatre.