Design accolade for Cairns Performing Arts Centre

Published: 01 June 2021. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

The Cairns Performing Arts Centre has taken out the top award at the 2021 Far North Queensland Architecture Awards.

Designed by CA Architects and Cox Architecture in collaboration, it was named the Eddie Oribin award for building of the year, as well as being one of five projects that received regional commendations at the awards on 28 May.

The $70 million centre was officially opened in late 2018 and along with the neighbouring Munro martin Parklands forms part of a unique cultural and entertainment precinct.

The $70 million building, which was opened in late 2018, is part of a cultural precinct with Munro Martin Parklands, which combined delivers a main Proscenium Arch theatre of 950 seats, a 400 seat Flexible Studio and an external Performance Amphitheatre with capacity for 3,000.

The Far North Queensland Architecture Awards jury stated: “CPAC and associated Munro Martin parklands create a benchmark in regional performance arts space.

“The intensely tropical response with cloaking landscape, filtered sunscreen, lofty public space opening to both inside and out, below the fly towers and theatres clad in a pallet of cloud-like colours always reflecting the changing tropical skies.”

Mayor Bob Manning said this latest accolade was a clear demonstration that CPAC was a state-of-the-art facility.

“There was no question the team from CA Architects and Cox Architecture delivered on our vision to create a place where people can watch in awe the beauty of the arts world and be inspired by their performances,” Cr Manning said.

“They designed a building that can accommodate new technology, bigger shows and more complex sets and meets the needs of our community well into the future.”

The recipients of awards and regional commendations will advance to the Queensland Architecture Awards, which will be announced via a live broadcast on 24 June.