IPAC refurbishment gets underway

Image: The official opening of the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre in January 1988.

As the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre marks its 35^th birthday, the building is getting a major overhaul and upgrade.

This week, the area to the front of the Burelli Street building will be cordoned off to make way for the equipment and materials required for the extensive project that is anticipated to be completed by mid-2023.

“Since the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre was opened by King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales, on a summer’s day in January 1988 it has hosted a wide variety of performances and social events,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“While it was a cutting-edge building at the time, it’s now showing signs of its age. If we want the building to be here for another 35 years, we need to bring it up to the mark.’’

The refurbishment works include:

• Roof re-sheeting and refurbishment
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning replacement works
• Replacement of seating in the IMB and Bruce Gordon Theatres, carpet replacement and accessibility improvements to ensure the facility meets legislative requirements
• Installation and commissioning of a new hearing loop system to service the box office, IMB and Bruce Gordon Theatres
• Accessibility upgrade of existing amenities servicing both theatres
• IPAC foyer upgrades including bar areas

While the Arts Precinct will be fenced off, pedestrians will still be able to walk past the back of the Wollongong Art Gallery and Wollongong Town Hall buildings and past An Chut Chut to use Ethel Hayton Walkway to lower Crown Street.

There will be traffic control in place, as needed, such as when a crane is required to hoist materials needed to re-sheet the building’s roof. The traffic control will help pedestrians, residents and business owners move through the precinct.

For more information about the project, read the detailed Council report on the refurbishment.