Melbourne Recital Centre and Melbourne Theatre Company

Melbourne's newest cultural attractions, the two striking new buildings on the corner of Sturt Street and Southbank Boulevard, set new standards in theatre and music presentation. The complex, which opened in early 2009, will enhance and develop Melbourne's reputation as a major centre for arts and culture in Australia. Masterpieces of design and construction the buildings form a key part of the Brumby's government's plan to develop Southbank as an unparalleled arts precinct for Melbourne.

Melbourne Theatre Company's new building comprises the 500 seat theatre Sumner Theatre and more intimate Lawler Studio for small-scale works.

Melbourne Recital Centre (MRC) also comprises two main performance spaces. The 1,000 seat Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Hall and 150 seat Salon. The spaces achieve extraordinary standards in acoustic excellence. To eliminate external noise, the building is surrounded by 250mm of concerete, mounted on 38 steel springs. The interiors are lined with hand-cut panels of native Australian Hoop Pine.

The landmark buildings offer spacious foyers, online and in person box-office faciltiies, cafes and bars.

The Recital Centre and Melbourne Theatre Company buildings are the result of a $128 million collaborative project between the Victorian Government (Major Projects Victoria and Arts Victoria), together with architects Ashton Raggat McDougall, Arup (acoustic design) and Bovis Lend Lease (construction).

Melbourne Recital Centre and Melbourne Theatre Company