The Round Whitehorse Redevelopment
The Round Whitehorse Redevelopment
Client
Whitehorse City Council
Location
Nunawading VIC
Architect
Kerstin Thomson Architects + BKK Architects
Project Budget
$214 million
Traditional Custodians
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung
The $214 million Round reimagines a civic and cultural precinct, delivering a flexible, contemporary performing arts centre. Replacing an ageing venue, this landmark performing arts centre is a stage for all, designed to foster a vibrant, creative, and connected community.
The Round redefines cultural life in Melbourne's east. A live venue – The Round – is designed for active engagement and co-programming. Performance, studio, and community spaces are programmed with conferencing, meeting, and event spaces. A nexus for community and business, it delivers a rich, creative, and inclusive program, serving as a centre for community celebration and business.
This complexity of purpose and function demanded a bridge between creative vision and operational reality. The Round is a state-of-the-art venue, a flexible and accessible destination. Connectivity and accessibility underpin the design, which seamlessly integrates a 626-seat proscenium theatre, a flexible studio with extensive meeting, conference, and community facilities.
Innovation extends beyond its walls. The Round anchors a vibrant civic and cultural precinct. Blurring the lines between the venue, stage, and surrounding parkland, The Round features a dedicated outdoor sound shell that extends reach and scale. The multi award-winning design embeds sustainability from the ground up, setting a new standard for community infrastructure.
Responding to the complexity of scale and co-programming, Maytrix scoped and designed venue, kitchen, and hospitality infrastructure for the centre, embedding efficiency and service delivery into theatre planning and design. Designed to flex with demand, the comprehensive hospitality areas are designed for long-term impact and sustainability.
“To be a creative community that is vibrant, diverse and engaged through arts, culture and heritage, positioning The Round as Melbourne’s leading creative venue in the eastern region.”
Engaged over multiple stages, Maytrix leveraged early planning to inform the delivery of a robust business plan and governance framework, leading consultation and operational frameworks. The comprehensive business plan delivered the roadmap to guide operationalisation and long term business delivery for The Round.
The Round repositions Melbourne's east as a leading destination for performance, creative engagement, and business and community participation. It has redefined civic engagement in the region, with participation surging since opening. The Round is a hub for connection, learning, and celebration—and a centre for economic growth, strengthening resilience and connection. Its impact is felt not just in audience numbers, but in the renewed sense of pride and identity it brings to Whitehorse—anchoring the city as a leader in arts, culture, and community for generations to come.
The Round Whitehorse
Image - Kerstin Thompson Architects+BKK Architects
The Round Whitehorse
Image - Kerstin Thompson Architects+BKK Architects
The Round Whitehorse
Image - Kerstin Thompson Architects+BKK Architects
The Round Whitehorse
Image - Kerstin Thompson Architects+BKK Architects
“The Round is more than a building; it’s a beacon for creativity and connection in Whitehorse.”
Features
• 626-seat Proscenium Theatre – Fly tower, Audio & Orchestra Pit (automated)
• 203-seat Black Box Studio – Retractable Seating
• Outdoor Stage & Soundshell
• Foyer Bar & Public Foyer
• Conference & Function Centre & Bar – Flexible Configuration 150–400 pax
• Creative Studios & Rehearsal Room
Awards
• 2024 PAC Australia Impact Awards – Performing Arts Centre of the Year
• 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards – Public Architecture Commendation
• 2024 Local Government Arts Initiative Awards – Winner, Community Engagement
•2023 Australian Interior Design Awards – Public Design Category, Shortlisted
• 2023 Accessibility in the Arts Awards – Excellence in Inclusive Design, Finalist
