Sydney Opera House completes extensive concert hall renovation

2022-07-05T12:47:00-04:00

After two years of renovations, a room once blighted by poor acoustics and outdated machinery can now accommodate musicians previously turned away, with a push of a button

Ahead of its 50th birthday next year, the famed Jørn Utzon-designed Sydney Opera House is set to present the newly renovated concert hall which sought to remedy significant acoustics and accessibility issues.

Andrew Haveron, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's concertmaster, seemed more than pleased with the improved sound performance of the upgraded concert hall, telling The Guardian: "You can hear every minute detail now, every nuance — right up to the back row, everything pings through. It’s a miracle."

The project, led by ARM Architecture, commenced in early 2020 and will officially open to the public on July 20th.

Previously on Archinect: Sydney Opera House closes for its first major renovation

Sydney Opera House closes for its first major renovation

2020-03-13T16:52:00-04:00

[...] vast renovation project aimed at bringing all those innards up-to-date. The endeavor, budgeted at close to 300 million Australian dollars (nearly $200 million U.S.), culminated with the closure of the complex’s concert hall for the first time in its history. The hall has in the past been open 363 days a year, a point of pride, but it was shuttered in February for the start of a two-year upgrade.

Sydney's iconic Jørn Utzon-designed opera house will be turning 50 years old in 2023, and a massive renovation project has been long overdue.

Particular focus for the designers in charge of the job, Australian firm ARM Architecture, will be creating accessibility for visitors with mobility issues and improving the acoustic performance of the concert hall.

Rendering of the improved concert hall. Image: ARM Architecture.

"Performing arts venues are designed for the art that exists in their era. But artworks speak of their societies and as technology, construction and human endeavour progress, so do performance arts," states ARM Architecture on its website describing the renovation efforts.

"Over time, venues become technologically and artistically obsolete: they need to be calibrated to contemporary artistic thinking so that new works can be created and performed."

Construction is scheduled to be completed in mid 2021.

View this post on Instagram The first model of...

Archinect - News

Sydney Opera House completes extensive concert hall renovation

Sydney Opera House closes for its first major renovation