The redevelopment will increase the main auditorium’s capacity to 1,350-1,400 seats and accommodate orchestras of up to 106 players and choirs of 170 singers. The Office of Public Works has submitted a planning application to Dublin City Council, describing the project as a “once in a multi-generational opportunity” to create a premier cultural destination for music enthusiasts, artists, and visitors to Ireland.

The plans include a comprehensive refurbishment of the main auditorium, the installation of a new organ, and the addition of a dedicated rehearsal studio for the National Symphony Orchestra. There will also be an extension and restoration of the historic John Field Room, an expansion of the main foyer, a new entrance, and a café terrace. A new four-storey extension will be constructed to the west of the site, and some smaller buildings within the complex will be demolished.

In total, the project covers the restoration and redevelopment of over 16,000 square meters of the NCH complex, marking the largest redevelopment of a national cultural institution in Ireland’s history.

The main auditorium, which seats 1,200 people, has not been upgraded since its opening in September 1981. The NCH has highlighted the need for refurbishment, noting that the stage is too small for large orchestras and that many features, including seating and the stage floor, are outdated.

NCH Chairperson Maura McGrath stated that the redevelopment would create a vibrant new campus for music, transforming under-utilized spaces into additional performance and rehearsal areas and enhancing the main auditorium’s capacity and technical capabilities. The project is expected to benefit the National Symphony Orchestra and three choirs: the National Symphony Chorus, Cór Linn, and Cór na nÓg.

The redevelopment is a key initiative under the national development plan, Project Ireland 2040. McGrath emphasized the project’s significance in nurturing Ireland’s musical heritage by providing state-of-the-art facilities for Irish and international musicians, as well as emerging artists. She also noted that the NCH’s annual events could double to over 2,000, potentially attracting up to 500,000 visitors.

Ciaran O’Connor, the principal architect for the Office of Public Works, described the project as “complex and ambitious.” He stressed the importance of ensuring the NCH provides a creative and accessible environment for all users, given its reputation as the “home of music in Ireland.”

The refurbished NCH, expected to be completed in about five years, is projected to contribute up to €60 million annually to the greater Dublin area economy. The NCH complex will also house the new €70 million National Children’s Science Centre, for which planning permission was granted earlier this year.

The Earlsfort Terrace site, dating back to 1865, has a rich history. It was initially known as the Exhibition Palace and hosted the International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures. The current structure, which replaced the original building in 1914, served as the home of University College Dublin before the NCH was established in 1981.

Public submissions on the planning application can be made to Dublin City Council until August 27th.