Perth City Council has approved a $160-million proposal to revamp a strip of Barrack Street in a scheme designed by Hames Sharley.
The Perth Local Development Assessment Panel (LDAP) voted to approve plans to redevelop six lots covering 3,350 square metres along Barrack Street, between the Murray and Hay street malls.
LDAP spokesperson Diana Goldswain said the renewal would breathe new life into the neglected part of town and draw the community back into the city’s former cinema building.
“It’s such an unloved and disheveled part of town, so it’ll be great to see it more polished and activated,” said Goldswain.
The five existing buildings include the Connor Quinlan building, the Moana building, the Liberty Theatre, the Lafayette Chambers and the Grand Hotel.
Hames Sharley will transform the site at 95-99 Barrack Street into a new arts and office hub.
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Hames Sharley
The redevelopment will include the construction of an 22-storey tower (18 of which are above ground), of which the first two floors will incorporate existing heritage buildings on the site and host a revamped 400-seat Liberty Theatre.
“This space with the cultural centre will contribute to bringing play and culture back into the CBD, and contribute to much needed activation of the site’s forgotten upper levels,” Hames Sharley’s design report read.
The Liberty Theatre will reopen in November to June 2023 while it is temporarily reactivated to enable visitors to experience it before it is redeveloped. The Perth International Jazz Festival has already been selected as the first group to perform in the reopened theatre for November and December.
Shames Harley said the renovation of the Liberty Theatre would “anchor the cultural centre’s support spaces”.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
