Adelaide Festival Centre’s iconic building has been awarded a South Australian Architect Award 50 years after it was designed and built. The iconic building won the ‘John Cheesman Award for Enduring Architecture’ for its bold, modernist 1973 design.
Adelaide Festival Centre was designed by Hassell architect John Morphett who planned the building form the inside out, focusing on the intricate technical and performance requirements. The construction of Adelaide Festival Centre commended in 1970 and took almost three years to complete.
Adelaide Festival Centre was the first performing arts theatre to open in Australia, with its doors opening three months ahead of Sydney Opera House.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM: “We are delighted to see Adelaide Festival Centre receive this award in its 50th anniversary year. It is an iconic part of South Australian architecture and continues to house some of the best shows and entertainment from around the globe.
“It has been a wonderful year celebrating Adelaide Festival Centre’s 50th birthday and this award is a real testament to the Festival Centre’s ongoing legacy and impact.”
Adelaide Festival Centre was partly funded by a public appeal and reached its target within a week. Two weeks prior to the opening night, 40,000 South Australians inspected the theatre in a single day. The queue reportedly stretched from King William Road to North Terrace.
Today, Adelaide Festival Centre welcomes one million visitors and over 70,000 children, students, teachers, and their families each year.
Adelaide Festival Centre has showcased many big names across 50 years including William Barton, Annette Shun Wah, Billy Crystal, Cold Chisel, Olivia Newton-John, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Dami Im, Tim Minchin, Paul Kelly, Tina Arena, Alan Cumming, Guy Sebastian, Archie Roach, Beccy Cole, Kate Ceberano and David Attenborough.
Winners from the South Australian Architect Awards will now progress to the National Architecture Awards, to be announced at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra on Tuesday, October 31.
