Once open, the new auditorium basement is set to house practice and recording spaces, as well as storage areas for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Stage lifts, and new toilets for public use during performances will also be installed.
From July, carpentry work, wiring, and services installations will start on the ground floor, and levels one and two.
On the ground floor, renovations to the auditorium will create a new backstage space, which will open onto Te Ngakau-Civic Square, as well as a green room, which will be used by performers to set up and practice before going on stage. The previous Ilott Theatre will be a multipurpose flat floor space and will be fitted out by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōki, for performance and recording capabilities.