New performing arts facility for Gold Coast

The City of Gold Coast has released early designs for a new Lyric Theatre in the Home of the Arts (HOTA) precinct.

Designed by ARM Architecture, the new theatre will accommodate major theatrical productions including musicals, ballet, opera, comedy and live music.

The theatre will be of similar scale to major theatres in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with an 1,800-seat audience capacity, and ability to host 200 performances annually. The building will also include generous foyers, food and beverage facilities, studio spaces, urban design upgrades and interfaces.

"HOTA is already known as an icon for South East Queensland. It is a destination for visitors and a place that's much loved by locals. And the Theatre is much the same," said ARM director Jesse Judd.

"The building is the new front door to the precinct, and extends to a welcome plaza out the front and through the landscape, and connect up to the existing gallery and outdoor stage. So it's the new identity for the precinct but extending the character of the much loved landscape that frames it."

ARM Architecture and German landscape architecture practice Topotek 1 won a design competition for the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct Masterplan in 2013. Since then three key projects of the masterplan have been completed: an outdoor stage, a green bridge and HOTA Gallery, all designed by ARM Architecture.

In 2023, the council undertook a review of the masterplan, which reaffirmed the need for a new lyric theatre, particular given ageing condition and limited capacity of the existing performing arts theatre.