Semperoper to Get a Ballet Center – Design Selected

The Semperoper in Dresden is set to get a ballet center. Although concrete plans, including cost estimates and a timeline, have yet to be finalized, the first step has now been taken. According to the State Real Estate and Construction Management Agency, 20 design proposals were submitted by architectural firms for the project. First prize went to Gerber Architekten GmbH in Dortmund.

The Semperoper’s service building is in urgent need of renovation

A new building at the Semperoper is also necessary because the existing service building, after approximately 40 years of use, requires extensive renovation. The building is a designated historic landmark. “A large portion of the building components shows signs of wear and tear, structural defects, and contamination with hazardous substances; the building’s technical systems are no longer up to date,” the statement said.

Since a phased renovation of the building is not possible while the opera continues to operate, all measures for a comprehensive renovation in accordance with historic preservation guidelines are to be carried out simultaneously, it was stated. Therefore, a new building is now to be constructed that will serve as an interim solution for the functional building and, once the renovation is complete, will be converted and used permanently as the “Semperoper Ballet Center.”