The shortlisted design firms competing to design the redevelopment of the Canberra Theatre Centre have been revealed by the ACT government.

From 21 submissions, three teams of Australian and international architects have been named preferred tenderers:

• Architectus with Henning Larsen and Arup
• Designinc with Zaha Hadid Architects
• Hassell with Snøhetta

“The redeveloped CTC will provide a world-class audience experience and deliver architectural excellence befitting its location in the centre of our city and centred in the planned Canberra Civic and Culture District,” said ACT arts minister Tara Cheyne.

“I am excited to see the innovative tenders these industry leaders produce, bringing us closer to our ambition for Canberra as Australia’s arts capital.”

The chosen tenderers will collaborate with experts to prepare their proposals.

The construction of a new, 2,000-seat major theatre, the adaptive re-use of the existing Canberra Theatre into a multi-purpose venue fit for a range of performances, concerts, and events, the renovation of the Playhouse theatre, and a large expansion of the courtyard studio.

The ACT government also emphasised the importance of diversity and inclusion in the tender proposals, asking the architects to develop designs that are inclusive of and supportive of the LGBTIQ+ community as well as individuals with disabilities.

The winning consortium will be appointed in mid-2023.

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