The 152-year-old Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall reopened its doors on 15 July 2014 with a concert by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra concert.
Graced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and members of the arts and culture community, the concert was the first official event to be held since the national monument closed for refurbishment in 2000.
Officially recognised as a National Monument in 1992, the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall has played many significant roles in Singapore’s cultural history. During the refurbishment process, efforts focused on preserving its original architecture while modernising its facilities to make it a suitable mid-sized performance venue for the arts community. As Singapore’s oldest performing arts venue, the return of the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is a milestone in Singapore’s arts landscape.
The work centered on improving the public and back-of-house spaces at Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall to bring them up to modern, professional standards, whilst still respecting the heritage. Arup played a key role in the restoration of the venue by developing the overall brief for the project, and implementing this with the design team through to the successful conclusion.
Arup’s acousticians worked closely with W Architects to improve the acoustics of the Concert Hall without compromising the architectural intent. The new theatre is technically more efficient and flexible for performers, thanks to the input from our theatre consulting team. Our environmentally sustainable design consultants looked at making the building more energy efficient especially in the new central atrium. Fire engineers carefully designed evacuations routes while maintaining the original intent of beloved elements within the building.
“The new Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall was designed right from the start with its audience in mind. In the concert hall, the audience would experience a much cleaner and warmer sound wherever you choose to sit. Visitors will note the improved comfort and sightlines in the theatre and the enhanced feeling of being part of a shared experience during a performance.
“I hope that the audience will enjoy hearing every nuance of the performance. This is what theatre is all about. With the reopening of this well-loved venue, we look forward to visitors enjoying the best of the performing arts for many years to come. Nick Boulter, Acoustics and Theatre Consulting Leader, Singapore
The completion of this project adds to Arup’s successful track record of refurbishing cherished spaces, such as Clarke Quay and National Museum of Singapore, while also retaining the buildings’ historical flavour and charm.
For more information, please visit www.vtvch.com.