Building the venue

Works are underway on Western Australia's New Performing Arts Venue (NPAV).

Forward Works

Forward works commenced on the site of the New Performing Arts Venue on 13 November 2006 and have been completed. Broad Construction Services carried out the forward works, which included demolition, excavation and substructure to prepare the site for the main construction.

Main Construction

The tender for the main construction contract was awarded to John Holland Pty Ltd on 5 October 2007 and work started on site at the end of October. The construction program is scheduled to take 110 weeks.

What is happening on site

June 2008

On 3 June  the basement floor of the New Performing Arts Venue was poured, following the removal of more than 10,000m³ soil from the site over the past six months. 

The basement floor slab - which is 600mm thick and secured to the ground by 86 tension piles that extend 10 metres into the ground - will become the floor of the Studio and one of the two rehearsal rooms.

About 130 trucks delivered over 1,000m³ of concrete to the site for the continuous pour.

Construction of an isolated floor, to create acoustic separation between the Studio and external vibrations, was completed in August.

October 2008

As the building rises out of the ground and takes shape, underground work continues with the installation of pre-run electrical and hydraulic equipment.

The roof of the Studio and neighbouring rehearsal room has been laid and transfer beams are being installed on top of the Studio roof to provide a base for the Main Theatre on the upper level. 

Shafts for the main back-of-house and passenger lifts are being completed and construction of the fly tower has commenced.  

Work has also started on the restoration of the heritage buildings on William Street. The roof of these buildings is being removed to accommodate a second floor.

Building before your eyes

Watch the building progress of the New Performing Arts Venue