Design Competition Launched For New National Theater In Dublin

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Séamus Brennan T.D., has announced that that an International Design Competition will be held over the coming months to select a design for the new National Theatre (the Abbey) to be built in the Dublin Dockland's at George's Dock.

He said that when completed the new waterside building will give Dublin an iconic and dynamic structure reflecting the city's growing reputation as a global capital of culture and creativity.

It is intended that the public will be given the opportunity to make known their views when a shortlist of submitted designs are put on public display ahead of a decision on a final design for the new National Theatre.

Minister Brennan said: "I strongly support the view that Dublin should constantly be striving to embrace the best the world has to offer in business, culture and architecture.

"The new National Theatre will combine all three of these elements and I am confident that when the International Design Competition is complete we will have a world-class design for a new iconic landmark building for the city.

"It must be a design that reflects and embraces the great surges in creativity and culture we are witnessing in the Ireland of the 21st century, while at the same time acknowledging the historic significance of the Abbey to Irish life over more than a century.

"Using the power of architecture and design I am confident that we can create a prestigious building that will be both spectacular and celebrated.

The new National Theatre will be the centrepiece of a new wave of cultural, social and economic amenities that are being developed in the Dublin Docklands, including the new National ConventionCentre, the Grand Canal Theatre, the CHQ building, the Point Village and the U2 Tower.

The new Abbey Theatre will be over 24,000 square metres and will have three theatres, several rehearsal spaces, public and social spaces including shops, bars, restaurants, cafes, facilities for performers and staff, gallery and exhibition facilities and a cinema/lecture facility.

The three different auditoria will provide diverse opportunities for artists and writers. Currently the Abbey can provide an average of 632 seats (across two auditoria) on any one night. The new building will provide audiences with more choices and a greater opportunity to see more diverse work with plans for some 1,000 seats across three auditoria. It is envisaged that each of the theatres will have their own foyer, auditorium, stage, dressing rooms, crew/staff rooms and technical control rooms.