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Back to SearchLeading professional services company, GHD has delivered the engineering and building services design for a multi-million dollar restoration of RMIT’s Capitol Theatre, located in the heart of Melbourne, Australia. The project has transformed an iconic 1920s building from a cinema into a new, multipurpose cultural and educational hub for the community.
GHD designed the building services and provided services in structural engineering, project management and superintendency for both stages of the project. The Victorian heritage-listed building is now a multi-functional 4K (approximately 4000 pixels) resolution cinema and stage venue.
“It was a special project in that we incorporated 21st century technology into a historic landmark building, reflecting RMIT’s creative vision for a new community space,” said GHD’s Andrew Morrison, project lead.
Capitol Theatre was designed in the 1920s by internationally-renowned American architects Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marion Mahoney Griffin, known to Australians for designing the city of Canberra, and responsible for bringing the Prairie School of architecture to Australia.
According to Heritage Council Victoria, the foyer and auditorium are “extraordinary and were highly advanced in concept in the 1920s. The auditorium ceiling design, with its spectacular lighting effects, is of particular importance.”
In the 1960s the cinema’s closed down due to the rising popularity of wireless radio and television, and narrowly avoided demolition. RMIT University took ownership in 1999 and the building was remodelled and used for teaching purposes before closing again in 2014.
GHD was engaged in 2016 by RMIT to provide project management, superintendency and engineering consultancy for mechanical, electrical, hydraulics, structural and fire engineering from inception to project handover.
“We started with a comprehensive condition assessment which we developed into a preliminary scope of work to help restore the building’s former glory,” said Andrew.
Andrew said the integration of sensitive, heritage-related features of the building with modern safety standards was key to the success.
Following the first stage of the cinema opening in early June, GHD joined RMIT University to celebrate the completion of the second stage with the opening of the redeveloped fly tower. Located behind the stage, the fly tower allows stage crew to quickly, quietly and safely move components around such as curtains, lights and speakers, extending the usage of the theatre beyond film screenings to performance arts, theatre and conference presentations.
“Back in the cinema’s early operations, workers would sit on wooden planks in the fly tower to hoist things up and down with no hand or safety rails. Effectively, people could have fallen down 25 meters,” said Andrew. “A big part of our work included modern safety access whilst ensuring that the heritage element survived. It was important to get the right balance.”
GHD’s design included replacing more than 4000 incandescent bulbs with programmable LED lights hidden in the crystalline-style roof, which are producing efficient energy and cost outcomes because of the lower heat output and maintenance.
A new vertical transport lift, which is supported off a suspended concrete slab on the first floor, now provides disabled access within the building. The design of the lift faced significant heritage constraints as it extends across multiple levels of the building and had to fit within the existing heritage fabric.
“The retractable screen support that we designed also had to sit within the existing heritage-listed proscenium arch which was constraining in terms of its unique shape,” said Andrew.
Other features include new zoned air conditioning and bars and kitchens throughout the facility.
Fit for outside broadcast capability, the restored Capitol Theatre is set to host hundreds of events throughout the year including Melbourne International Film Festival and Melbourne Queer Film Festival.
RMIT’s Executive Director of Property Services, Chris Hewison, is proud of the project’s successful delivery. “With RMIT’s creative vision and GHD’s building expertise, we have created a new destination for culture, education and innovation. It’s a space that is built for collaboration, creativity and connection, and we’re proud that it’s safe and accessible for all to enjoy.”
As Chair of the Capitol PCG, RMIT’s Pro-Vice Chancellor and Vice President, Paul Gough said he is extremely pleased with the result and collaborative atmosphere from the large number of stakeholders involved. “I am positive that the special relationship between GHD and RMIT will continue to prosper as a result of this innovative project and I can’t wait for the community to see the finished result,” he said.
With the opening of the reimagined Capitol Theatre, an icon has been saved and will provide enjoyment for many years ahead.