Her Majesty’s Theatre in Adelaide has won a national award at the Australian Institute of Building (AIB) Professional Excellence in Building Awards.

The redeveloped theatre took out the Commercial Construction ($60 million-plus) Award nationally, awarded to Hansen Yuncken in recognition of individual building professionals who have demonstrated leadership and assisted the on-time and on-budget delivery of exceptional construction projects. The project is one of a number of Heritage theatre buildings receiving upgrades recently, joining Brisbane’s Princess Theatre and Newcastle’s Victoria Theatre.

Originally opened in 1913, Adelaide’s oldest continually operating theatre was transformed into a larger and more accessible venue with state-of-the-art facilities – its $66 million redevelopment was unveiled in June 2020.

The redevelopment was designed by Adelaide-based COX Architecture, built by national construction company Hansen Yuncken and managed by the South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure and Adelaide Festival Centre.

The project employed more than 150 construction workers at its peak and engaged a 90 percent South Australian work force, including specialist artisan contractors and local craftspeople.

Adelaide Festival Centre CEO and artistic director Douglas Gautier AM says, “We are delighted to see Her Majesty’s Theatre receive the great recognition it deserves and for the spectacular work done by the team at Hansen Yuncken on this much loved Australian arts venue.”

‘The Maj’ has showcased many famous names across 108 years including Luciano Pavarotti, Dame Gracie Fields, Bill Haley and His Comets, Maggie Smith, Chris Isaak, Archie Roach, Alan Cumming and Paul Kelly and Her Majesty’s Theatre ambassadors including Adelaide’s own Robyn Archer AO, Greta Bradman, David Campbell OAM and Peter Goers OAM along with Kate Ceberano AM, Ali McGregor, Todd McKenney, Rhonda Burchmore OAM and Meow Meow.

This award adds to other accolades for Her Majesty’s Theatre including:

Australian Institute of Architects SA 2021

• City of Adelaide Prize – COX Architecture  
• David Saunders Award for heritage – COX Architecture
• Jack McConnell Award for Public Architecture – COX Architecture

Master Builders South Australia Building Excellence Awards 2021:        

• Interior /Finishes Commercial awarded to JRCM Commercial Joinery
• Commercial/Industrial Building $50 million to $100 million awarded to Hansen Yuncken

Australian Institute of Building – South Australia and Northern Territory Professional Excellence in Building Awards 2021:

• Commercial Construction $60 million plus – Hansen Yuncken ​
• Professional Excellence – Hansen Yuncken’s Chris Cavenett, Her Majesty’s Theatre Project Manager

Main photo by Chris Oaten