Client
Williams Ross Architects
Location
Warragul, VIC
Completion date
2018
The Existing Arts Centre
From its inception in 1982, West Gippsland Arts Centre has been a regional centre attracting audiences and performances from well beyond the boundaries of the Shire. The facility sits adjacent to Civic Park and is close to the CBD of Warragul. As such, it has the potential to be central to a hub providing a range of community cultural, creative and education services.
The Upgrade
In 2014, Baw Baw Shire Council pledged $10.5 million to upgrade the Centre. The project addressed what was needed to maintain the level of service and to ensure the venue continues to meet the region’s needs for the next 30 years, with a view to the hub contributing to strengthening the community and being a strong driver of economic development and creative industry.
The Project
The project included:
- Increases to the auditorium’s seating capacity, refurbishments, and installing a mechanised orchestra pit
- Improvements to the accessibility and heating/cooling throughout the venue
- Upgrades to the toilet facilities and dressing room spaces, exhibition spaces, café areas, meeting and function areas, foyers and service points, and the loading bay and staff work-spaces
Our Scope
Marshall Day Acoustics and Marshall Day Entertech provided full acoustic and theatre design services from Schematic Plan Development through to the construction stages.
Timelines
The project planning and design began in 2012, with construction commencing in March 2017. The centre re-opened in November 2018.
“It is paramount the WGAC is preserved, renewed and enhanced, so it can continue to contribute to the region’s economic growth and development and be a legacy to future generations."